

Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast
Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast
Behind the Knife is the world’s #1 surgery podcast. From high-yield educational topics to interviews with leaders in the field, Behind the Knife delivers the information you need to know. Tune in for timely, relevant, and engaging content designed to help you DOMINATE THE DAY!
Behind the Knife is more than a podcast. Visit www.behindtheknife.org to learn more.
Behind the Knife is more than a podcast. Visit www.behindtheknife.org to learn more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 1, 2024 • 21min
Clinical Challenges in Hernia Surgery: Open Preperitoneal Ventral Hernia Repair
Listen to another episode by the Hernia Team from Carolinas Medical Center as they discuss their approach to open preperitoneal ventral hernia repair. Although uncommonly performed, a preperitoneal approach offers several advantages including the ability to achieve large mesh overlap without the need for myofascial release. The team discusses their tips and tricks for utilizing the preperitoneal space in even the most challenging hernia cases.
Hosts:
- Dr. Sullivan “Sully” Ayuso, Chief Resident, Carolinas Medical Center, @SAyusoMD (Twitter)
- Dr. Todd Heniford, Chief of GI & MIS, Carolinas Medical Center, @THeniford (Twitter)
- Dr. Vedra Augenstein, Professor of Surgery, Carolinas Medical Center, @VedraAugenstein (Twitter)
- Dr. Monica Polcz, Attending Surgeon, Baptist Health (Miami, FL)
Learning Objectives:
- Review standard methods of herniorraphy in open abdominal wall reconstruction
- Introduce the concept of open preperitoneal ventral hernia repair
- Discuss the advantages as well as the standard tips and tricks for performing an open preperitoneal repair
- Review outcomes for preperitoneal hernia repair over time
Podcast Video Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pMvB0rnokQ
References:
- Novitsky et al, Open Preperitoneal Retrofascial Mesh Repair for Multiply Recurrent Ventral Incisional Hernias, JACS, 2006
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36280505/
- Heniford et al, Preperitoneal Ventral Hernia Repair: A Decade Long Prospective Observational Study with Analysis of 1023 Patient Outcomes, Annals of Surgery, 2020
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30080725/
- Katzen et al, Open Preperitoneal Ventral Hernia Repair: Prospective Observational Outcomes of Quality Improvement Outcomes Over 18 Years and 1,842 Patients, Surgery, 2023
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36280505/
Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.
If you liked this episode, check out other recent episodes here:
https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

Mar 28, 2024 • 26min
Clinical Challenges in Trauma Surgery: Approach to Pancreatic Injury
Eat when you can, sleep when you can, and don’t F with the pancreas! What happens when that third rule goes wrong, and why do people say pancreas injuries are like eating crawfish? Whether you love the pancreas or just the mention of the P-word strikes fear in your heart, or if you just want the answer to the aforementioned questions, join Drs. Cobler-Lichter, Kwon, and Meizoso, as they guide you through all this and more!
Hosts:
- Michael Cobler-Lichter, MD, PGY3, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital/Ryder Trauma Center, @mdcobler (twitter)
- Eugenia Kwon, MD, Trauma/Surgical Critical Care Fellow, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital/Ryder Trauma Center
-Jonathan Meizoso, MD, MSPH Assistant Professor of Surgery, 4 years in practice, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital/Ryder Trauma Center, @jpmeizoso (twitter)
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the AAST grading system for pancreatic injuries
- Come up with a treatment plan for each grade of pancreatic injury
- Identify commonly associated injuries with pancreatic trauma
- List potential complications of pancreatic trauma and/or surgery
Quick Hits:
1. Pancreas injuries do not all require a trip to the operating room. Low grade injuries should be managed with a trial of nonoperative management if there are no other operative indications
2. CT is the best initial imaging modality, although it has low sensitivity. If there is high concern for a pancreas injury based on mechanism or associated injuries, further investigation is required.
3. Pancreas injuries are like crawfish: suck the head and eat the tail.
4. Injuries to the left of the SMV can generally be treated with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy, whereas injuries to the right of the SMV are usually drained.
5. Its important to identify and address any concomitant injuries, with duodenal injuries being the most common in higher grade injuries.
6. In the case of the dreaded grade 5 injury, the safe answer is to come back and do your reconstruction at a later time.
References
1. https://www.westerntrauma.org/western-trauma-association-algorithms/management-of-pancreatic-injuries/
2. Bassi, Claudio et al. The 2016 update of the International Study Group (ISGPS) definition and grading of postoperative pancreatic fistula: 11 Years After. Surgery, Volume 161, Issue 3, 584 – 591
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28040257/
Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.
If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

28 snips
Mar 25, 2024 • 35min
Global Surgery Episode 2: Trauma Care in Resource-Limited Settings
Global Surgery podcast discusses trauma care in resource-limited settings, highlighting the high mortality rates of traumatic injuries globally. Dr. Anthony Charles shares his experiences in establishing trauma care in Malawi, emphasizing the importance of training and funding for frontline healthcare providers. The podcast also explores the challenges in developing trauma training standards, advocating for investment in trauma care, and enhancing trauma care through training personnel and system improvements.

Mar 21, 2024 • 42min
Global Surgery Episode 1: How Health Infrastructure Interacts with Global Surgical Care
Join us for a new edition of our global surgery series! On this episode, Dr. Jon Williams is joined by Dr. Sudha Jayaraman and Dr. Justina Seyi-Olajide to discuss how we define global surgery today and how health infrastructure interacts with global surgical care.
Dr. Jayaraman is a trauma and acute care surgeon at University of Utah, and the director of the Center for Global Surgery. After attending UC Davis for medical school, Dr. Jayaraman completed general surgery residency at UCSF, during which time she obtained a masters in public health in developing countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. During this time, her efforts were dedicated to researching and implementing trauma systems development in Uganda. After residency she then completed a trauma and critical care fellowship at Brigham and Women’s, during which she received the Harvard Medical School Health Disparities Fellowship to continue her trauma systems work in Rwanda. Her ongoing work investigating injury burden and trauma systems in low and middle income countries has been well funded by the NIH, DOD, and others and published in numerous forums, as she is a well-renowned expert in this field.
Dr. Justina Seyi-Olajide is a pediatric surgeon at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. She completed her medical school training at the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria and subsequently her general surgical and pediatric surgical training at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, earning the Fellowship of West African College of Surgeons in Pediatric Surgery and the Alinta Nwako prize for best graduating pediatric surgical trainee. Dr. Seyi-Olajide’s vision is to provide equitable pediatric surgical care in resource-limited settings, and has been highly influential for developing initiatives such as the National Surgical, Obstetric, Anesthesia and Nursing Plan for Nigeria. Additionally, she is a member of the Global Initiative for Children’s Surgery and is well published for her original research on topics regarding access to pediatric surgical care in low and middle income countries.
Have any feedback for the global surgery content, or have any suggestions for future episodes? Please feel free to reach out to us at hello@behindtheknife.org.
We now have over 725 episodes! The easiest way to find specific topics or episodes is on our website https://app.behindtheknife.org/home or on our new Apple/Android app. You can search or browse by topic, podcast series, etc., making it much easier to navigate than podcast players.
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app
PREMIUM BUNDLE:
https://app.behindtheknife.org/bundle/95
Please email hello@behindtheknife.org to learn more about our premium bundle and institutional discounts.
Premium Bundle Includes:
General Surgery Oral Board Audio Review
Trauma Surgery Video Atlas
Colorectal Surgery Oral Board Audio Review
Surgical Oncology Surgery Oral Board Audio Review
Vascular Surgery Surgery Oral Board Audio Review
Cardiothoracic Surgery Surgery Oral Board Audio Review

Mar 18, 2024 • 32min
Journal Review in Surgical Education: Artificial Intelligence
Expert Dr. Dan Hashimoto discusses the role of AI in surgical education. Topics include deep learning, collaboration between surgeons and engineers, ethical considerations, research methodology in AI, and the importance of AI education in medical training.

Mar 14, 2024 • 53min
Hot Topics in Trauma: Western Trauma Association 2024
The Fellowship of the Snow kept it interesting this year…both on and off the slopes! On this episode, Patrick Georgoff discusses the Western Trauma Association’s updated resuscitative thoracotomy algorithm with Ron Tesoriero, the results of a WTA multicenter trial exploring chest tube irrigation for the prevention of retained hemothorax with Thomas Carver, and prehospital blood administration with Juan Duchesne.
** Algorithms and papers are pending final review and are therefore not available to link to this episode.
Ron Tesoriero, MD: Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of the Acute Care Surgery Fellowship, and Co-Director of the SICU at UCSF.
Thomas Carver, MD: Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of the Acute Care Surgery Fellowship, and Senior Medical Director of Critical Care Services at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Juan Duchesne, MD: Professor of Surgery and Chief of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery at Tulane university.
Resuscitative Thoracotomy: The Who (Episode 475): https://app.behindtheknife.org/podcast/big-t-trauma-series-ep-14-ed-thoracotomy-the-who
Resuscitative Thoracotomy: The How (Episode 476): https://app.behindtheknife.org/podcast/big-t-trauma-series-ep-15-ed-thoracotomy-the-how
Innovation Lifeflow (Episode 642): https://app.behindtheknife.org/podcast/innovations-in-surgery-lifeflow
We now have over 725 episodes! The easiest way to find specific topics or episodes is on our website https://app.behindtheknife.org/home or on our new Apple/Android app. You can search or browse by topic, podcast series, etc., making it much easier to navigate than podcast players.
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/behind-the-knife/id1672420049
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.btk.app
PREMIUM BUNDLE:
https://app.behindtheknife.org/bundle/95
Please email hello@behindtheknife.org to learn more about our premium bundle and institutional discounts.
Premium Bundle Includes:
General Surgery Oral Board Audio Review
Trauma Surgery Video Atlas
Colorectal Surgery Oral Board Audio Review
Surgical Oncology Surgery Oral Board Audio Review
Vascular Surgery Surgery Oral Board Audio Review
Cardiothoracic Surgery Surgery Oral Board Audio Review

Mar 11, 2024 • 37min
Clinical Challenges in Vascular Surgery: Dialysis Associated Steal Syndrome
In this episode of Behind the Knife the vascular surgery subspecialty team discusses a few case scenarios of patients with dialysis associated hand ischemia (or steal syndrome). Although a rare, steal syndrome can be detrimental to patients with end stage renal disease and result in not only risk of losing dialysis access but even their limb. What options do you have to fix this problem? In this episode, we will cover the who is at risk of this, and what options you have to fix it.
Hosts:
Dr. Bobby Beaulieu is an Assistant Professor of Vascular Surgery at the University of Michigan and the Program Director of the Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Program as well as the Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program at the University of Michigan.
Dr. David Schectman is a Vascular Surgery Fellow at the University of Michigan
Dr. Drew Braet is a PGY-4 Integrated Vascular Surgery Resident at the University of Michigan
Learning Objectives
- Review high-yield topics regarding hemodialysis access
- Understand the incidence of and the relevant risk factors for dialysis associated steal syndrome
- Review the spectrum of presenting symptoms and relevant workup for dialysis associated steal syndrome
- Understand surgical treatment options for dialysis associated steal syndrome
References
Please review the journal article below for helpful pictures and depictions of the operations we describe in this episode.
- Al Shakarchi J, et al. Surgical techniques for haemodialysis access-induced distal ischaemia. J Vasc Access. 2016 Jan-Feb;17(1):40-6.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26349875/
Other helpful references
- Kordzadeh A, Parsa AD. A Systematic review of distal revascularization and interval ligation for the treatment of vascular access-induced ischemia. J Vasc Surg 2019; 70:1364.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31153703/
- Huber TS, Larive B, Imprey PB, et al. Access-related hand ischemia and the Hemodialysis Fistula Maturation Study. J Vasc Surg 2016;64:1050.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27478007/
- Sidawy An, Spergel LM, Besarab A, et al. The Society for Vascular Surgery: clinical practice guidelines for the surgical placement and maintenance of arteriovenous hemodialysis access. J Vasc Surg 2008; 48:2S.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19000589/
***Fellowship Application - https://forms.gle/5fbYJ1JXv3ijpgCq9***
Please visit https://behindtheknife.org to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.
If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here: https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

Mar 7, 2024 • 48min
Circulation-First Approach to Trauma Resuscitation
Join BTK eduction fellows, Drs. Nina Clark and Jon Williams along with guests Drs. Sharmila Dissanaike and Paula Ferrada for a discussion on whether it’s time for a paradigm shift toward a circulation-first approach to trauma resuscitation.
Hosts:
Nina Clark, MD and Jon Williams, MD
Guests:
Sharmila Dissanaike, MD - Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX
Paula Ferrada, MD - Inova, Fairfax, VA
References:
Ferrada P, Dissanaike S. Circulation First for the Rapidly Bleeding Trauma Patient-It Is Time to Reconsider the ABCs ofTrauma Care. JAMA Surg. 2023 Aug 1;158(8):884-885. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2022.8436. PMID: 37195675.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37195675/
Ferrada P, Ferrada R, Jacobs L, Duchesne J, Ghio M, Joseph B, Taghavi S, Qasim ZA, Zakrison T, Brenner M,Dissanaike S, Feliciano D. Prioritizing Circulation to Improve Outcomes for Patients with Exsanguinating Injury: ALiterature Review and Techniques to Help Clinicians Achieve Bleeding Control. J Am Coll Surg. 2024 Jan 1;238(1):129-136. doi: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000000889. Epub 2023 Nov 28. PMID: 38014850; PMCID: PMC10718219.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38014850/
***Fellowship Application - https://forms.gle/5fbYJ1JXv3ijpgCq9***
Please visit https://app.behindtheknife.org/home to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.
If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen

Mar 4, 2024 • 26min
Journal Review in Surgical Oncology: Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors (GISTs)
Explore the debate over one versus three years of adjuvant imatinib treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors, highlighting improved recurrence-free and overall survival with longer therapy. Dive into the impact of targeted therapies on GIST care, discussing variations in therapy durations and implications on survival rates. Compare US and European healthcare systems in managing GISTs, and gain insights on factors influencing recurrence risk, treatment response, and therapy resistance in GIST patients.

Feb 29, 2024 • 33min
Clinical Challenges in Hernia Surgery: Lateral Abdominal Wall Hernias
Though relatively rare, lateral abdominal wall hernias present a unique challenge to surgeons. Join Drs. Ajita Prabhu, Lucas Beffa, Sara Maskal and Ryan Ellis as they talk through their approach to these difficult cases.
Hosts:
· Ajita Prabhu, MD, Cleveland Clinic, @aprabhumd1
· Lucas Beffa, MD, Cleveland Clinic, @BeffaLukeMD
· Ryan Ellis, MD, Cleveland Clinic, @EllisMD2020
· Sara Maskal, MD, Cleveland Clinic
Learning Objectives:
· Review anatomy of lateral abdominal wall hernias
· Review pitfalls of operating in the retroperitoneum
· Review surgical approaches to repair defects based on algorithmic assessment
References:
· Montelione KC, Petro CC, Krpata DM, Lau B, Shukla P, Olson MA, Tamer R, Rosenblatt S, Rosen MJ, Prabhu AS. Open Retromuscular Lateral Abdominal Wall Hernia Repair: Algorithmic Approach and Long-Term Outcomes at a Single Center. J Am Coll Surg. 2023 Jan 1;236(1):220-234. doi: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000000419. Epub 2022 Dec 15. PMID: 36106747.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36106747/
· Beffa LR, Margiotta AL, Carbonell AM. Flank and Lumbar Hernia Repair. Surg Clin North Am. 2018 Jun;98(3):593-605. doi: 10.1016/j.suc.2018.01.009. Epub 2018 Mar 12. PMID: 29754624.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29754624/
***Fellowship Application - https://forms.gle/5fbYJ1JXv3ijpgCq9***
Please visit https://app.behindtheknife.org/home to access other high-yield surgical education podcasts, videos and more.
If you liked this episode, check out our recent episodes here https://app.behindtheknife.org/listen