Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

Join the Behind the Knife Surgical Oncology Team as we discuss the two key studies investigating optimal management strategies of neuroendocrine tumors of the small bowel. Hosts: - Timothy Vreeland, MD, FACS (@vreelant) is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Surgical Oncologist at Brooke Army Medical Center - Daniel Nelson, DO, FACS (@usarmydoc24) is Surgical Oncologist/HPB surgeon at Kaiser LAMC in Los Angeles. - Connor Chick, MD (@connor_chick) is a 2nd Year Surgical Oncology fellow at Ohio State University. - Lexy (Alexandra) Adams, MD, MPH (@lexyadams16) is a 1st Year Surgical Oncology fellow at MD Anderson. - Beth (Elizabeth) Barbera, MD (@elizcarpenter16) is a PGY-6 General Surgery resident at Brooke Army Medical Center Learning Objectives: In this episode we review two important papers that discuss optimal management strategies of neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of the small bowel.  The first paper by Singh and colleagues discusses the NETTER-2 trial investigating the role of radioligand therapy for NET as a first-line treatment.  The second article by Maxwell et all challenges surgical dogma regarding optimal debulking cutoffs for debulking of NET. Links to Papers Referenced in this Episode: 1.     Singh S, Halperin D, Myrehaug S, Herrmann K, Pavel M, Kunz PL, Chasen B, Tafuto S, Lastoria S, Capdevila J, García-Burillo A, Oh DY, Yoo C, Halfdanarson TR, Falk S, Folitar I, Zhang Y, Aimone P, de Herder WW, Ferone D; all the NETTER-2 Trial Investigators. [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE plus long-acting octreotide versus high‑dose long-acting octreotide for the treatment of newly diagnosed, advanced grade 2-3, well-differentiated, gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (NETTER-2): an open-label, randomised, phase 3 study. Lancet. 2024 Jun 29;403(10446):2807-2817. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00701-3. Epub 2024 Jun 5. PMID: 38851203. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38851203/ 2.     Maxwell JE, Sherman SK, O'Dorisio TM, Bellizzi AM, Howe JR. Liver-directed surgery of neuroendocrine metastases: What is the optimal strategy? Surgery. 2016 Jan;159(1):320-33. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2015.05.040. Epub 2015 Oct 9. PMID: 26454679; PMCID: PMC4688152. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26454679/ 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

You have a patient with complicated diverticulitis s/p IR drain with colo-cutaneous fistula and colo-vaginal fistula. They are scheduled for surgery. How will you do it? What is the role for hand assist? How can hand assist help? Tune in to find out! Join Drs. Peter Marcello, Jonathan Abelson, and Tess Aulet as they discuss high yield papers discussing hand assist laparoscopy in Colon and Rectal surgery.  Learning Objectives 1. Describe the technical considerations and how to do hand assist laparoscopic surgery (HALS) 2. Discuss the indications for use of HALS 3. Review literature supporting use of HALS Video Link: https://app.behindtheknife.org/video/journal-review-in-colorectal-surgery-hand-assist-laparoscopy-in-colon-and-rectal-surgery References: Marcello PW, Fleshman JW, Milsom JW, Read TE, Arnell TD, Birnbaum EH, Feingold DL, Lee SW, Mutch MG, Sonoda T, Yan Y, Whelan RL. Hand-assisted laparoscopic vs. laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial. Dis Colon Rectum. 2008 Jun;51(6):818-26; discussion 826-8. doi: 10.1007/s10350-008-9269-5. Epub 2008 Apr 17. PMID: 18418653. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18418653/ Jacobs C, Read TE. "Peek port": avoiding conversion during laparoscopic colectomy-an update. Surg Endosc. 2020 Sep;34(9):3944-3948. doi: 10.1007/s00464-019-07165-3. Epub 2019 Oct 4. PMID: 31586252. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31586252/ Heneghan HM, Martin ST, Kiran RP, Khoury W, Stocchi L, Remzi FH, Vogel JD. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery for obese patients: decreased conversions with the hand-assisted technique. J Gastrointest Surg. 2013 Mar;17(3):548-54. doi: 10.1007/s11605-012-2089-x. Epub 2012 Nov 27. PMID: 23188222. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23188222/ 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

Intern year: where the learning curve is steep and you’re not sure if the patient is crashing or you are. In this episode of Behind the Knife, our surgical education fellows reflect on what they wish they had known before Day 1—and all the humbling, hilarious, and genuinely formative moments along the way. From getting lost wheeling a critical patient through the hospital, to triple-scrubbing just to be acknowledged, to accidentally spraying TPA into your own eye (yes, really)—this episode is a candid conversation about the highs, lows, and everything in between. Whether you're gearing up to start your intern year or reflecting on how far you've come, this is the episode we all needed. Hosts:  Elizabeth Maginot, MD – General Surgery Resident, University of Nebraska Medical Center  @e_magination95 Nina Clark, MD – General Surgery Resident, University of Washington @clarkninam Ayman Ali, MD – General Surgery Resident, Duke University Michelle LaBella, MD – General Surgery Resident, University of North Carolina Emma Burke, MD – General Surgery Resident, Baylor College of Medicine @emmaburke017 Learning Objectives: Identify common misconceptions about intern year—and how to manage expectations Understand how to approach early mistakes with humility and resilience Recognize the importance of teamwork and asking for help Reflect on what makes a strong, dependable intern References BTK Intern Survival Guide: https://app.behindtheknife.org/podcast-series/medical-student-and-intern-survival-guide Institutional pharmacists (seriously, call them—they’re the unsung heroes) Check out our Medical Student and Intern Survival Guide HERE: https://app.behindtheknife.org/podcast-series/medical-student-and-intern-survival-guide

This new series will be a collaboration between BTK and Annals of Surgery, where we will be discussing hot topics in surgery research. No, we won’t be getting into the nitty gritty of methods of individual papers but rather will focus on high-level discussions of contemporary topics that are moving our field forward. Hosts: Cody Mullens, MD is a general surgery resident at the University of Michigan, current Behind the Knife Surgery Education Fellow. (@Cody_Mullens) Justin B. Dimick, MD MPH is the Fredrick A Coller Distinguished Professor and Chair of Surgery at the University of Michigan. He also serves as the Editor in Chief at Annals of Surgery. (@jdimick1) 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

The evidence for climate change is irrefutable. But how does surgical care contribute to global emissions, and is there anything we can do to make surgery more sustainable? Join Jon Williams and our ASGBI partners for the next installment of our BTK/ASGBI collaborative series, where we discuss how to make surgical care greener. Mrs. Cleo Kennington from the UK and Dr. Benjamin Miller from the US are our guest experts, and provide valuable insights into local sustainability efforts you can take home to your hospital, broader concepts of how high-quality care is sustainable, innovations in sustainability, and what the future of sustainable surgery may look like. After listening, you get to decide–Who has more sustainable surgical practices? The UK or US? Mrs. Cleo Kenington is a Consultant Emergency General and Trauma Surgeon at St George’s Hospital, London and was the recent ASGBI Sustainability Lead. She is a big advocate for practicing what she preaches, focusing on how we can reduce the environmental impact at all stages, from cycling to work, preventing complications and unnecessary surgeries, to reducing the use of disposable surgical components.  Dr. Benjamin Miller is a general and minimally invasive surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic, with a clinical focus on complex abdominal wall reconstruction. After earning his MD from University of Minnesota School of Medicine in 2011, Dr. Miller went to Nashville to complete his general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Following this, he became a MIS/complex ab wall fellow at Cleveland Clinic, after which he joined as faculty in 2023. In addition to his clinical interests, Dr. Miller has a deep passion for sustainability efforts within surgical practice, carrying on the legacy of established sustainability efforts within surgical care at Cleveland Clinic and training the next generation of sustainable surgeons. If you enjoyed this episode, stay tuned for more upcoming BTK/ASGBI collaborative content. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to us at hello@behindtheknife.org. 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

Join Drs. Michael Rosen, Benjamin T. Miller, Sara Maskal, and Ryan Ellis as they review mesh materials used in hernia repair and the general properties surgeons who perform hernia repairs should know.  Hosts:    - Sara Maskal, MD, Cleveland Clinic  - Ryan Ellis, MD, Cleveland Clinic - Benjamin T. Miller, MD, Cleveland Clinic  - Michael Rosen, MD, Cleveland Clinic  Learning Objectives:   - Understand common mesh materials  - Review properties of the different mesh materials - Understand how to apply knowledge of the different mesh properties to different patient scenarios References:  - Ellis R, Miller BT. Mesh selection in abdominal wall reconstruction: an update on biomaterials. Surgical Clinics. 2023 Oct 1;103(5):1019-28. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37709387/ - Krpata DM, Petro CC, Prabhu AS, Tastaldi L, Zolin S, Fafaj A, Rosenblatt S, Poulose BK, Pierce RA, Warren JA, Carbonell AM. Effect of hernia mesh weights on postoperative patient-related and clinical outcomes after open ventral hernia repair: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA surgery. 2021 Dec 1;156(12):1085-92. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34524395/ - Rosen MJ, Krpata DM, Petro CC, Carbonell A, Warren J, Poulose BK, Costanzo A, Tu C, Blatnik J, Prabhu AS. Biologic vs synthetic mesh for single-stage repair of contaminated ventral hernias: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA surgery. 2022 Apr 1;157(4):293-301. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35044431/ - Maskal S, Miller B, Ellis R, Phillips S, Prabhu A, Beffa L, Krpata D, Rosenblatt S, Rosen M, Petro C. Mediumweight polypropylene mesh fractures after open retromuscular ventral hernia repair: incidence and associated risk factors. Surgical Endoscopy. 2023 Jul;37(7):5438-43. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37038022/ - Harris HW, Primus F, Young C, Carter JT, Lin M, Mukhtar RA, Yeh B, Allen IE, Freise C, Kim E, Sbitany H. Preventing recurrence in clean and contaminated hernias using biologic versus synthetic mesh in ventral hernia repair: the PRICE randomized clinical trial. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33443907/ - Olavarria OA, Bernardi K, Dhanani NH, Lyons NB, Harvin JA, Millas SG, Ko TC, Kao LS, Liang MK. Synthetic versus biologic mesh for complex open ventral hernia repair: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Surgical Infections. 2021 Jun 1;22(5):496-503. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33259771/ 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

Welcome back to our series on AI for the clinician! Large language models, like ChatGPT, have been taking the world by storm, and healthcare is no exception to that rule – your institution may already be using them! In this episode we’ll tackle the fundamentals of how they work and their applications and limitations to keep you up to date on this fast-moving, exciting technology. Hosts: Ayman Ali, MD Ayman Ali is a Behind the Knife fellow and general surgery PGY-3 at Duke Hospital in his academic development time where he focuses on data science, artificial intelligence, and surgery. Ruchi Thanawala, MD: @Ruchi_TJ Ruchi Thanawala is an Assistant Professor of Informatics and Thoracic Surgery at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and founder of Firefly, an AI-driven platform that is built for competency-based medical education. In addition, she directs the Surgical Data and Decision Sciences Lab for the Department of Surgery at OHSU.  Phillip Jenkins, MD: @PhilJenkinsMD Phil Jenkins is a general surgery PGY-3 at Oregon Health and Science University and a National Library of Medicine Post-Doctoral fellow pursuing a master’s in clinical informatics. Steven Bedrick, PhD: @stevenbedrick Steven Bedrick is a machine learning researcher and an Associate Professor in Oregon Health and Science University’s Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology. 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

Mastering the surgical consult is a true milestone in every young surgeon’s career.  But it’s not easy!  It is a difficult transition from lowly data gatherer to mighty data synthesizer.  It is, in many ways, an art form.  Is there anything more beautiful than breaking down a complex, convoluted patient presentation into an immaculate assessment and plan?  Something so bullet proof that the attending surgeon has been left speechless.  Perhaps not!  Join Drs. Joey Lew and Patrick Georgoff as they review 10 CONSULT COMMANDMENTS TO DOMINATE THE DAY: Have a System Trust No One, Expect Sabotage Always Ask at Least One Why Always Look at the Imaging Yourself Don’t Worry Alone Don’t Bury the Lead Never Lie Include a Real Assessment and Plan in Your Note Goals of care are important and individual Over-communicate Hosts: Dr. Joey Lew, MD, MFA, PGY2, Duke University (@LewActually) Dr. Patrick Georgoff, MD, Duke University (@georgoff) Insensible Losses – Poems by Joey Lew: https://www.amazon.com/Insensible-Losses-Joey-Lew/dp/B0D773LSHL 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

In this episode, we dive into the rapidly evolving world of ambient listening AI in healthcare. From outpatient clinics to inpatient wards and operating rooms, this technology is reshaping how care is delivered, documented, and experienced. We explore how ambient listening AI is improving clinic flow by streamlining documentation and reducing interruptions, allowing clinicians to stay more present with their patients. The technology is increasingly adaptive to individual provider styles, learning preferences and workflows to deliver more personalized support. Plus, we share practical tips for new users to get the most out of their ambient listening AI systems from day one. Join us as we hear from experts on the front lines and debate the future of ambient listening AI in medicine—where the walls really do have ears, but for all the right reasons. Host:  - Nicole Petcka, MD – General Surgery Resident, Emory University, @npetcka2022 Guests:  - Samuel R. Torres Landa Fernández, MD – Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellow, Emory University  - Anastasios Nikolaos (Nick​) Panagopoulos, MD – Internal Medicine Resident, Emory University  - Joe Sharma, MD - McGarity Chair in Endocrine Surgery and Professor of Surgery, Vice-chair for Patient Safety, Quality and Innovation, Emory University  Resources:  Enhancing Accuracy of Operative Reports with Automated Artificial Intelligence Analysis of Surgical Video Khanna A, Wolf T, Frank I, Krueger A, Shah P, Sharma V, Gettman MT, Boorjian SA, Asselmann D, Tollefson MK. Enhancing Accuracy of Operative Reports with Automated Artificial Intelligence Analysis of Surgical Video. J Am Coll Surg. 2025 May 1;240(5):739-746. doi: 10.1097/XCS.0000000000001352. Epub 2025 Apr 16. PMID: 39918224. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39918224/ 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

Join the University of Washington Surgical Palliative Care Team for their final episode of this series — a dual journal review and clinical challenges discussion on assessing medical decision-making capacity. Using Dr. Paul Applebaum’s foundational framework, the team outlines the four key criteria for evaluating capacity and brings the topic to life through two contrasting standardized patient scenarios. This episode highlights why capacity assessment is not only relevant but essential for surgeons navigating complex, high-stakes decisions.  Hosts:  Dr. Katie O’Connell (@katmo15) is an associate professor of surgery at the University of Washington. She is a trauma surgeon, palliative care physician, director of surgical palliative care, and founder of the Advance Care Planning for Surgery clinic at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Dr. Ali Haruta is an assistant professor of surgery at the University of Washington. She is a trauma and emergency general surgeon and palliative care physician. Ali recently completed fellowships in palliative care at the University of Washington and Trauma and Critical Care at Parkland.  Dr. Lindsay Dickerson (@lindsdickerson1) is a PGY6 general surgery resident at the University of Washington with an interest in surgical oncology.   Dr. Virginia Wang is a PGY3 general surgery resident at the University of Washington. Learning Objectives: 1.        Decipher the distinction between the terms “capacity” and “competence”.   2.        Describe the four criteria for assessing medical decision-making capacity presented in Dr. Paul Applebaum’s article “Assessment of Patients’ Competence to Consent to Treatment.” 3.        Apply the capacity assessment framework to real-world clinical scenarios in surgical practice.  References: 1.        Applebaum, PS. Assessment of Patients’ Competence to Consent to Treatment. New England Journal of Medicine 2007; 357(18):1834-1840. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17978292/ 2.        Special thank you to Mr. Mark Fox for his acting contribution to this episode. 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