Surgical Journals Research Articles

1289 Gender Representation in The Authorship of Surgical Journals

Abstract Introduction Despite the increase in female doctors graduating from medical schools internationally, gender disparity in surgery remains. This disparity is also evident in academic surgery. This study aims to quantify the extent of gender disparity in the authorship of articles in major surgical journals. Method The Top 10 Surgical Journals were identified using SCImago Journal Rank indicator. Authorship details for papers published in 2019 were collected. Authors were assigned as female, male or unknown using Gender API software (Gender API, Germany). For each journal, the percentage of first author, last author, corresponding author and all authors split by gender was interrogated. Gender differences by publication type were also identified. Results 9 of the 10 journals had full names publicly available. Overall, 2414 manuscripts were interrogated which included 16,277 number of authors. Respectively, females and males accounted for 29.8% [22.9-34.9%] (N = 655) and 62.4% [56.3-70.2%] (N = 1419) of first authors, 20.6% [11.8-27.1%] (N = 453) and 74.2% [65.6-84.1%] (N = 1706) of last authors, 23.9% [14.9-29.6%] (N = 510) and 69.9% [60.5-79.3%] (N = 2341) of corresponding authors and in total 27% [19.4-31.6%] (N = 4298) and 65.5% [58.6-73.4%] (N = 9982) of all authors. The wide range in these results could be a result of various factors. Conclusions This study has identified a gender imbalance in authorship positions, with the greatest difference observed in the most senior author position. Whether this is reflective of the current disparity observed in senior academic surgery positions or due to gender discrimination is unclear.

715 The Importance of Social Media to The Academic Surgical Literature: Relationship Between Twitter Activity and Readership Metrics

Abstract Aim Social media (SoMe) has an increasing role within professional surgical practice, including the publishing and engagement of academic literature. This study aims to analyse the relationship between social media use and traditional and alternative metrics amongst academic surgical journals. Method Journals were identified through the InCites Journal Citation Reports 2019, and their impact factor (IF), h-index and CiteScore were noted. Social media platforms were examined, and Twitter activity interrogated between 1st January- 31st December 2019. Healthcare Social Graph (HSG) score and an aggregated Altmetric score were also calculated for each journal. Statistical analysis was carried out to look at the correlation between traditional metrics, Twitter activity and altmetrics. Results Journals with higher IF were more likely to use a greater number of SoMe platforms (R2=0.648; p < 0.0001). Journals with dedicated Twitter profiles had a higher IF than journals without (median, 2.96 vs 1.88; MWU=390; p < 0.001) however over a one-year period (2018-2019) having a twitter presence did not alter IF (MWU=744.5; p = 0.885). Increased Twitter activity was positively correlated with IF. Longitudinal analysis over six years suggested cumulative tweets correlated with an increased IF (R2=0.324, p = 0.004). Novel alternative measures including HSG score (R2=0.472, p = 0.005) and Altmetric score (R2=0.779, p = 0.001) positively correlated with IF. Conclusions Higher IF is associated with SoMe presence and activity, particularly on Twitter, with long term activity being of particular importance. Modern alternative metrics correlate with IF. This relationship is complex and future studies should look to understand this further.

Need for Speed: Investigating Publication Times and Impact Factors of Plastic Surgery Journals.

Background:Prolonged publishing time in scientific journals can be discouraging for researchers because earlier publication can mean a higher h-index and more academic opportunities. In this study, we evaluated the publication time for articles in plastic surgery journals compared with journals in surgery and medicine. We also assessed correlations between publication speed and journal impact factors (IFs).Methods:The overall indexes of all plastic surgery journals were compared with journals in the discipline of surgery and medicine. In addition, we evaluated original articles published in all plastic surgical journals and the highest-ranking journals from various surgical subspecialties listed in the 2018 Journal Citation Report, assessing the time intervals from submission to publication, submission to acceptance, and acceptance to publication. Correlation between time interval and journal IF were analyzed.Results:A total of 18 plastic surgery journals were compared with 210 surgical journals. Our study found that the IFs of journals significantly affect submission-to-acceptance times of the articles (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon test). The median submission-to-publication time for all plastic surgery and all surgical journals was 29.7 weeks (IQR, 12.1 and 35.8) and 22.1 days (IQR,18.8 and 36.8), respectively.Conclusions:There is a significant submission to publication time lag in plastic surgery journals when compared with other nonplastic-surgery journals. There was a positive correlation between submission-to publication time and IF for plastic surgery journals but a negative correlation for surgery journals (Spearman Correlation). In the last 14 years, plastic surgery journals have remained slow in publishing articles.

Adjacent segment syndrome after failed back surgery: biomechanics, diagnosis, and treatment.

The adjacent segment syndrome is defined as the changes in the adjacent structures of an operated spinal level that produce symptoms of pain and disability, which worsen the quality of life of a patient. Pain management specialists must be aware of these biomechanical changes brought by spinal surgeries, as well as of the symptoms associated with pain after surgery, to reach an appropriate diagnosis and provide an adequate treatment. Specialized pain literature contains few reports on specific management of patients using the terms "adjacent segment syndrome, degeneration or disease;" most of the literature comes from surgical journals. It is necessary to perform studies with a population sample comprising patients with adjacent segment syndrome after spinal surgery, since almost all treatments applied in this group are extrapolated from those used in patients with pain originating in the same area but who have not previously undergone spine surgery. Therefore, we consider necessary for pain physicians to understand the underlying biomechanics, promote the diagnosis of this condition, and analyze possible treatments in patients with adjacent segment disease to alleviate their pain and improve their quality of life.

Incomplete Cleft Palate Repair: Von Langenbeck Converted to Two-flap Palatoplasty with Furlow Double Opposing Z-Plasty

Watch a video of a live Incomplete Cleft Palate Repair: Von Langenbeck Converted to Two-flap Palatoplasty with Furlow Double Opposing Z-Plasty procedure in addition to hundreds more peer-reviewed surgical video journals - only at CSurgeries.com

CAC (Coblation Assisted Cordectomy) in Bilateral Vocal Cord Palsy- Tips & Tricks

Watch a video of a live CAC (Coblation Assisted Cordectomy) in Bilateral Vocal Cord Palsy- Tips & Tricks procedure in addition to hundreds more peer-reviewed surgical video journals - only at CSurgeries.com

Surgical research journals - Under review: An assessment of diversity among editorial boards and outcomes of peer review

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic exposed racism as a public health crisis embedded in structural processes. Editors of surgical research journals pledged their commitment to improve structure and process through increasing diversity in the peer review and editorial process; however, little benchmarking data are available. MethodsA survey of editorial board members from high impact surgical research journals captured self-identified demographics. Analysis of manuscript submissions from 2016 to 2020 compared acceptance for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)-focused manuscripts to overall rates. Results25.6% of respondents were female, 2.9% Black, and 3.3% Hispanic. There was variation in the diversity among journals and in the proportion of DEI submissions they attract, but no clear correlation between DEI acceptance rates and board diversity. ConclusionsDiversity among board members reflects underrepresentation of minorities seen among surgeons nationally. Recruitment and retention of younger individuals, representing more diverse backgrounds, may be a strategy for change. DEI publication rates may benefit from calls for increasing DEI scholarship more so than changes to the peer review process.

To the recognition and treatment of sigmoid inclusions&#x0D; intestines

In recent years, the issue of volvulus of the sigmoid colon has received a lot of attention at surgical congresses, at meetings of surgical societies, and on the pages of surgical journals. In defense of this or that method of treating this suffering, statistical data, immediate and long-term results, pathological and anatomical justifications are given. However, there seems to be no complete agreement on this issue among surgeons. We do not think on the basis of our small material to draw any generalizing conclusions, but nevertheless several cases operated on and under our supervision over the last 4 years (1926-1930) give us a small right to share our results.

Nasopharyngeal Papillomatosis- A combined Transnasal Transoral Coblation Assisted Approach

Watch a video of a live Nasopharyngeal Papillomatosis- A combined Transnasal Transoral Coblation Assisted Approach procedure in addition to hundreds more peer-reviewed surgical video journals - only at CSurgeries.com

Transoral Incision and Drainage of a Massive Retropharyngeal Abscess Involving the Danger Space

Watch a video of a live Transoral Incision and Drainage of a Massive Retropharyngeal Abscess Involving the Danger Space procedure in addition to hundreds more peer-reviewed surgical video journals - only at CSurgeries.com

The Reporting of Race and Ethnicity in Surgery Literature

The reporting of race provides transparency to the representativeness of data and helps inform health care disparities. The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) developed recommendations to promote quality reporting of race; however, the frequency of reporting continues to be low among most medical journals. To assess the frequency as well as quality of race reporting among publications from high-ranking broad-focused surgical research journals. A literature review and bibliometric analysis was performed examining all human-based primary research articles published in 2019 from 7 surgical journals: JAMA Surgery, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Annals of Surgery, Surgery, American Journal of Surgery, Journal of Surgical Research, and Journal of Surgical Education. The 5 journals that stated they follow the ICMJE recommendations were analyzed against the 2 journals that did not explicitly claim adherence. Measured study outcomes included race reporting frequency and use of the ICMJE recommendations for quality reporting of race. A total of 2485 publications were included in the study. The mean (SD) frequency of reporting of race and ethnicity in publications of ICMJE vs non-ICMJE journals was 32.8% (8.4) and 32.0% (20.9), respectively (P = .72). Adherence to ICMJE recommendations for reporting race was more frequent in ICMJE journals than non-ICMJE journals (mean [SD] of 73.1% [17.8] vs 37.0% [10.2]; P < .001). The frequency of race and ethnicity reporting among surgical journals is low. A journal's statement of adherence to ICMJE recommendations did not affect the frequency of race and ethnicity reporting; however, there was an increase in the use of ICMJE quality metrics. These findings suggest the need for increased and more standardized reporting of racial and ethnic demographic data among surgical journals.

Incidence and Management of Postoperativ Nausea and Vomiting: A Narrative Review

Background: Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is viewed as nausea and/or vomiting or retching that occurs in the Post- anesthesia care unit within the first 24–48 h after surgery. The incidence of these adverse reactions is between 30 and 80% following elective surgery based on the type of surgery and anesthesia, and predisposing patient risk factors. The most commonly used criteria in the perioperative assessment of the risk-score is Apfel which is a tool to evaluate PONV. The risk-score depends on Four variables: female gender, PONV history or motion sickness, postoperative opioids, and smoking status. Methods: Currently available evidence on MEDLINE, PubMed, Google scholar and Cochrane Evidence Based Medicine Reviews, in addition to the citation reviews by manual search of new anesthesia and surgical journals related to management post-operative nausea and vomiting were searched. Results: This review of recent studies showed incidence and management of post-operative nausea and vomiting and way to prevent or reduce its incidence by using monotherapy or combination antiemetic therapy, multimodal approach and by using optimal anesthetic technique for reducing baseline risk PONV. Conclusion: The causes of PONV are complex and multifaceted. Patient (gender, individual background, and medical condition); anesthesia type; and surgical procedure are all risk factors for PONV. PONV is better treated by preventing and/or minimizing PONV risk factors, as well as using prophylactic antiemetics in high-risk patients. There is no one PONV antiemetic drug or technique that is 100% appropriate for all patients at this time. If the first anti emetic is unsuccessful, a 2nd or 3rd anti emetic that targets a specific mid brain emetic receptor location may be needed. PONV prophylaxis should be considered for patients who have a low to high chance of contracting the virus, according to the scoring system. The patient may be treated with monotherapy or combination treatment of anti emetics, as well as non pharmacologic approaches and therapies to reduce baseline risk, depending on the severity of risk. A targeted multimodal solution beginning in the preoperative phase is more likely to ensure progress in the management of PONV, which increases patient care satisfaction while still being cost-effective.

Who is Committed to Education? An Analysis of Surgical Education Research Publications

Advances in surgical training have led to the recent emergence of surgical education research. While the importance of surgical education research is well recognized, not all surgical journals are publishing these works. The objective of this study was to analyze the volume and types of surgical education publications in general surgery and surgical subspecialty journals. A PubMed search string was developed to identify surgical education publications in general surgery (GS, n = 10) and surgical subspecialty (SS, n = 16) journals from 2015 to 2019. Publications were catalogued into 7 categories: curriculum and/or teaching, trainee assessment, program evaluation, wellness and/or burnout, resident research, case outcomes with resident involvement, and other. Journals were also categorized by impact factor into 3 groups. Statistical analysis was performed using linear regression and Wilcoxon rank-sum to analyze differences in education publication number and percent between GS and SS journals, as well as between different impact factor groups. The median proportion of surgical education publications was 1.2% (IQR 0.3-2.8%) of total publications for journals queried. The highest proportion of surgical education publications by a journal was 13.9%. All other journals had median ≤ 5.5%. GS journals had a significantly higher median percent of surgical education publications than SS journals (2.9% [IQR 1.7-4.8%] vs 0.5% [IQR 0.0-1.4%] p < 0.01). Additionally, no significant differences were found for number of surgical education publications when journals were categorized by IF (p > 0.05). Education research is an important component of the surgical literature, with similar publication rates among journals of different impact factors. Publication volume is higher among general surgery than surgical subspecialty journals. With the ever-changing paradigm of surgical training, a rigorous scientific approach is needed to ensure effective training of future surgeons. Subspecialty journals should promote surgical education research to further understand and develop training in their field.

O45 Gender representation in the authorship of surgical journals

Abstract Introduction Despite the increase in female doctors graduating from medical schools internationally, gender disparity in surgery remains. This disparity is also evident in academic surgery. This study aims to quantify the extent of gender disparity in the authorship of articles in major surgical journals. Method The Top 10 Surgical Journals were identified using SCImago Journal Rank indicator. Authorship details for papers published in 2019 were collected. Authors were assigned as female, male or unknown using Gender API software (Gender API, Germany). For each journal, the percentage of first author, last author, corresponding author and all authors split by gender was interrogated. Gender differences by publication type were also identified. Result 9 of the 10 journals had full names publicly available. Overall, 2414 manuscripts were interrogated which included 16,277 number of authors. Respectively, females and males accounted for 29.8% [22.9–34.9%] (N = 655) and 62.4% [56.3–70.2%] (N = 1419) of first authors, 20.6% [11.8–27.1%] (N = 453) and 74.2% [65.6–84.1%] (N = 1706) of last authors, 23.9% [14.9–29.6%] (N = 510) and 69.9% [60.5–79.3%] (N = 2341) of corresponding authors and in total 27% [19.4–31.6%] (N = 4298) and 65.5% [58.6–73.4%] (N = 9982) of all authors. The wide range in these results could be a result of various factors. Conclusion This study has identified a gender imbalance in authorship positions, with the greatest difference observed in the most senior author position. Whether this is reflective of the current disparity observed in senior academic surgery positions or due to gender discrimination is unclear. Take-home Message This study identified a gender imbalance in authorship positions of major surgical journals, which has implications for women who choose to pursue a career in academic surgery.

Gender disparities among leadership in academic surgical publishing over the past decade

BackgroundWomen account for 19 % of practicing surgeons in the United States, with representation decreasing with higher academic rank. Less is known about the proportion of women in editorial leadership positions at surgical journals. The objective of this study was to examine gender representation among editorial leadership at high-impact surgical journals. MethodsThe five journals with the highest impact factors in general, cardiothoracic, plastics, otolaryngology, orthopedics, urology, vascular, and neurosurgery were identified. Data were abstracted on the proportion of women editors-in-chief (EIC) and editorial board members between 2010 and 2020 to determine how these demographics changed over time. ResultsMultiple fields had no women EIC over the past decade (orthopedics, urology, cardiothoracic, neurosurgery). In all other fields, women were a minority of EIC. In 2020, women made up 7.9 % of EIC and 11.1 % of editorial boards in surgical journals. ConclusionsWomen remain under-represented among leadership at high-impact surgical journals, with varying improvement over the past decade among different subspecialties.

Courtesy Authorship Practices Among First and Senior Authors: Evaluation of Motivations, Gender Bias, and Inequities.

A courtesy author is an individual who has not met authorship criteria but is listed as an author. This practice is common and often seen as victimless. Because publications are used for funding and promotion decisions, it is critical to understand biases in this practice. An anonymous survey was conducted from March to October 2020 of first and senior authors of publications from 2014 to 2015 in 8 surgical journals. Authors were surveyed about demographic data, practice setting, and courtesy author practices. Three hundred forty-one authors responded (16% response rate). 75% were from academic practice settings. 14% reported adding courtesy authors 5 or more times in the past year. Courtesy authors were more often male (80%, P = 0.023), older (75%), and of higher academic rank (65%) than first/senior authors. All author groups were >75% white. When a reason was reported, 46% added a courtesy author due to avoid retaliation; 64% to avoid awkwardness. 26% expected reciprocal authorship offers. 92% of respondents acknowledge understanding International Committee of Medical Journal Editors authorship criteria. Women were less common among those added from goodwill than those added from fear (P = 0.039.) When courtesy authors were of a lower rank than first/senior authors, they were nearly twice as likely to be female (P = 0.0056) or non-white (P = 0.0184.). Courtesy authors were more often male, older, and higher rank than first/senior authors. Fear of career consequences was a major motivator for including courtesy authors. Understanding the motivations and pressures leading to courtesy authorship will help to correct this practice.

Application of the CARE guideline as reporting standard in the AME Surgical Journal

Application of the CARE guideline as reporting standard in the AME Surgical Journal

Citation Inaccuracies in Influential Surgical Journals

This study investigates the prevalence and potential etiologies of citation inaccuracies in surgical literature by systematically characterizing influential surgical articles and references they cited.

What is a computational emotion?

ABSTRACT Much recent work in cognitive science and psychology has rediscovered the James-Lange hypothesis, which grounds affect in physiological states and processes. This article complements such an approach in a very different manner, through the computational analysis of large historical datasets. Rather than focusing attention upon the singular affective body […]’. By so doing, it seeks to extend James’s theory of emotion across much larger temporal and spatial scales. Rather than focusing attention upon the singular affective body, I examine a much wider cultural body – the hundreds of thousands of texts collected under Eighteenth Century Collections Online – in order to demonstrate the changing discourse on physiological affect. Computational modelling, I demonstrate, enables us to extend scholarly attention beyond canonical texts so as to consider more obscured or miscellaneous literature, ranging from surgical journals to midwifery manuals. By focusing upon a series of key words and terms – ‘irritability’, ‘sensibility’, ‘mental emotion’ – I demonstrate that such overlooked material anticipated the James-Lange hypothesis in unsuspected ways. I conclude by making a number of speculative analogies between the distributed nature of computational enquiry, on the one hand, and the distributed nature of embodied feeling, on the other.

The impact of level II evidence on surgical practice: Dual agent bowel prep for elective colorectal surgery

Retrospective cohort studies are the most commonly published and cited original articles in major surgical journals.1 Ideally, level I evidence guides clinical decision-making, but randomized trials are expensive, resource-consuming, and at times impractical. In these settings, findings from well-designed retrospective cohort studies represent the next best option.2 Improvements in retrospective cohort studies are often dependent on data reliability, and the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) offers high-quality data about surgical patients from across the US.