The current COVID-19 pandemic has vastly impacted the health care system in the United States, and it is continuing to dictate its unprecedented influence on the education systems, especially the residency and fellowship training programs. The impact of COVID-19 on these training programs has not been uniform across the board, with plastic surgery residency and fellowship programs among the hardest hit specialties. Implementation of social distancing regulations has affected departmental educational activities, including preoperative, morbidity and mortality conferences and journal clubs; operating room educational activities; as well as the overall education of plastic surgery trainees in the United States. Almost all elective and semielective surgeries across the United States were suspended for a few months during the COVID-19 pandemic; this constitutes a significant portion of plastic surgery cases. Considering the current staged reopening policies, it may be a long time, if ever, before restrictions are completely lifted. In this paper, we review the multidimensional impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the training programs of plastic surgery residents and fellows in the United States and worldwide, along with some potential solutions on how to address existing challenges.
The global pandemic of coronavirus 2019, or COVID-19, has undeniably impacted all facets of healthcare, affecting both its function and provision. Due to the cessation of all non-emergent surgical cases in the USA and worldwide, the professional lives and practices of many physicians have been negatively affected. However, among different physicians and specifically plastic surgeons, cosmetic/aesthetic plastic surgeons have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic as the majority of their cases are semi-elective and elective. The ability to perform semi-elective and elective cases is dependent on state and local authorities' regulations, and it is currently uncertain when the ban, if ever, will be completely lifted. Financial constraints on patients and their future inability to pay for these procedures due to the COVID-19-related economic recession are things to consider. Overall, the goal of this unprecedented time for cosmetic/aesthetic plastic surgeons is for their medical practices to survive, to conserve cash flow although income is low to none, and to maintain their personal finances. In this paper, the authors review the financial impacts of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the practices of cosmetic plastic surgeons in the USA and worldwide, along with some potential approaches to maintain their practices and financial livelihoods.
A shared-decision making process that considers the patient's requests, the three-dimensional imagingbased diagnosis of the actual full-face deformity, and the risk-benefit profile of the existing surgical options could support the preoperative orthodontist-surgeon interaction when counseling patients and setting the surgical plan for maxillary repositioning. The difference between Western and Asian cultures regarding the aesthetic appeal of the zygomatic/malar region and facial profile should also be appraised.
<p><strong>Objective. </strong>To describe the technical nuances of multimodal transseptal-transsphenoid surgery for pituitary tumors using a combination of microneurosurgery, neuroendoscopy, and electromagnetic neuronavigation.</p><p><strong>Materials and Methods. </strong>A transnasal approach to the sella is performed endoscopically and widely exposed by an otolaryngologic surgeon. Surgery is next performed by the neurosurgeon with microscope and neuronavigation for microsurgical resection of pituitary tumors. Neuroendoscope is also used at the end of surgery to confirm tumor resection and inspect operative site. During surgery, the patient’s head, angle and height of the microscope, and position of the table are repositionable to allow for multiple angle views. Abdominal fat harvested prior to the procedure is used to ensure cerebrospinal fluid seal.</p><p><strong>Results. </strong>The senior author (KIA) has used the combined approach with 84 consecutive patients. Radical resection was achieved in 66 patients, subtotal in 11, and partial in 7. There were no perioperative complications. Six patients experienced postoperative transient diabetes insipidus. The pituitary gland and stalk were preserved in all cases. Visual symptoms were improved in 78% and endocrinological symptoms in 56% of cases.</p><p><strong>Conclusion. </strong>This combined approach is safe and effective. It increases the efficacy and radicality of surgical resection, helps to preserve the pituitary gland, and improves and resolves preoperatively altered patient hormonal function and impaired vision. It also reduces complications, provides less postoperative pain and discomfort, reduces the surgery time, and enables a shorter hospital-stay.</p>
The current coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has vastly impacted the healthcare in the United States and is continuing to dictate its unprecedented influence on the education systems, especially the residency and fellowship training programs. The impact of COVID-19 on the residency and fellowship trainings has not been equal across the board; and amongst them, plastic surgery residency and fellowship programs are one of the hardest hit specialties. With social distancing regulations implemented, departmental educational activities including pre-operative, morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences and journal clubs, as well as education in the operating room (OR) have all been impacted as is the overall training of plastic surgery trainees in the United States. Almost all elective and semi-elective surgeries across the United States were suspended for a period of a few months (this constitutes a significant portion of plastic surgery cases). Considering the current staged reopening policies, it may be a long time, if ever, before restrictions are completely lifted. In the current paper, the authors review the multidimensional impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on the training of the plastic surgical residents/fellows in the United States and worldwide, along with some potential solutions on how to tackle these issues.
In this video, we highlight the anatomy involved with microsurgical resection of a giant T11/T12 conus cauda equine schwannoma. Spinal schwannoma remains the third most common intradural spinal tumor. Tumors undergoing gross total resection usually do not recur. To our knowledge, this is the first video case report of giant cauda equina schwannoma resection. A 55-year-old female presented with paraparesis and urinary retention. Lumbar spine MRI revealed contrast-enhancing intradural extramedullary tumor at the T11/T12 level. Surgery was performed in a prone position with intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring (somatosensory and motor evoked potentials - SSEP and MEP). T11/T12 laminectomies were performed. After opening the dura and arachnoid, the tumor was found covered with cauda equina nerve roots. We delineated the inferior pole of the tumor, followed by opening of the capsule and debulking the tumor. Subsequently, the cranial pole was dissected from the corresponding cauda equina nerve roots. Finally, the tumor nerve origin was identified and divided after nerve stimulation confirmed the tumor arose from a sensory nerve root. The tumor was removed; histological analysis revealed a schwannoma (WHO Grade I). Postoperative MRI revealed complete resection. The patient fully recovered her neurological function. This case highlights the importance of careful microsurgical technique and gross total resection of the tumor in the view of favorable postoperative neurological recovery of the patient. Intraoperative use of ultrasound is helpful to delineate preoperatively tumor extension and confirm postoperative tumor resection.
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