Behind The Knife: The Surgery Podcast

Welcome to the 6th episode of our BTK/ASGBI series!  During this series, BTK fellow Agnes Premkumar and ASGBI hosts Jared Wohlgemut and Gita Lingam will compare and contrast various aspects of surgery between the United States and the United Kingdom, debating who does what better.  In this episode, we delve into surgical training, current challenges, and hopes for the future of surgical training i...

Why are we still treating acute uncomplicated diverticulitis with antibiotics? There is plenty of evidence from several randomized controlled trials demonstrating that symptomatic management alone yields similar results. If we should continue prescribing antibiotics for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis, which patients should undergo treatment and when? Join Drs. Jared Hendren, Elissa Dabaghi, Jo...

Psst… wanna hear some tea? Join Drs. Maya Hunt, John Woodward, and Cait Silvestri as they discuss gossip - what it is, what it means, and how it can impact the surgical training environment. Joined by authors of a recent paper deconstructing gossip in surgical residency, Dr. Bobbi Ann Adair White and former CoSEF leader Dr. Joseph L’Huillier, the team examines the ways gossip can be positive and n...

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) represents a clinical crossroads in breast surgery—balancing the risks of over-treatment with the need to prevent invasive cancer. With new data from active monitoring trials, the pressure is on for surgeons to personalize care. Tune in to this essential episode to stay ahead of the curve on DCIS management and to hear expert insights from two leading breast surgica...

Welcome back our series on AI for the clinician! In this episode, we go over some basics of machine learning statistics with the goal to help you read and analyze contemporary studies. Some of this will be a review, and parts will be technical, but by the end we hope reading these studies is less daunting.  Hosts: Ayman Ali, MD Ayman Ali is a Behind the Knife fellow and general surgery PGY-4 at Du...

In the second episode of this new collaboration between BTK and Annals of surgery, we discuss another hot topic: academic surgery. Specifically, we discuss dedicated research time for residents and how surgical leaders think about building the academic surgery enterprise. This discussion was inspired by a couple of recent papers in Annals of Surgery that stirred up a lot of conversation on social...

In this episode of Behind the Knife, Dr. Patrick Georgoff sits down with Dr. Keri Seymour and Dr. Joey Lew to tackle the complex world of gastrostomy tubes. What may seem like a routine and straightforward procedure is anything but—full of nuanced patient considerations, timing dilemmas, technical challenges, and potential complications that can turn a “simple” consult into a 2 a.m. call you won’t...

A silent danger lurks within the descending thoracic aorta. While most Type B aortic dissections are managed medically, up to half of these patients will either require life-saving surgery or die within just five years. So how do we separate those who will quietly recover from those on the edge of catastrophe? How do we protect the spinal cord, bowel, and limbs from the devastating consequences of...

What if we could train patients for surgery the way elite athletes train for game day? In this episode, we review the science, shed light on the disparities, explore real-world challenges, and honor the behind-the-scenes workers that facilitate prehabilitation in thoracic cancer care. Join attending surgeon Doctor Jinny Ha, 3rd year general surgery resident Doctor Kyla Rakoczy, and Community Outre...

Primary hyperparathyroidism is an underdiagnosed condition which leads to decreased bone mineral density, fracture, renal disease, among other symptoms that can decrease the quality of a patient’s life. Moreover, once diagnosed, only a small fraction of patients with the diease end up being offered surgery. Whether it is because of misunderstood indications and benefits of surgery, non-localizatio...

Behind the Knife's General Surgery Oral Board Review Course includes 123 Audio Scenarios + 10 Interactive Video Scenarios + 97 Operative Descriptions that cover all SCORE topic. Each scenario includes two parts. The first part is a perfectly executed oral board scenario that mimics the real thing. Scenarios are 5 to 7 minutes long and include a variety of tactics and styles. If you are able to ach...

In this episode, the Behind the Knife team shares exciting updates, including updates to the General Surgery Oral Board Review with 123 expert-commentary scenarios, 10 interactive videos, and 97 operative descriptions. They announce upcoming projects such as an AI-powered oral board simulator, Spanish-language review, a free pediatric surgery resource, and detailed surgical instrument flashcards....

Behind the Knife's General Surgery Oral Board Review Course includes 123 Audio Scenarios + 10 Interactive Video Scenarios + 97 Operative Descriptions that cover all SCORE topic. Each scenario includes two parts. The first part is a perfectly executed oral board scenario that mimics the real thing. Scenarios are 5 to 7 minutes long and include a variety of tactics and styles. If you are able to ach...

Behind the Knife's General Surgery Oral Board Review Course includes 123 Audio Scenarios + 10 Interactive Video Scenarios + 97 Operative Descriptions that cover all SCORE topic. Each scenario includes two parts. The first part is a perfectly executed oral board scenario that mimics the real thing. Scenarios are 5 to 7 minutes long and include a variety of tactics and styles. If you are able to ach...

When the gallbladder turns hostile, sometimes you must do more than just pause—you have to call in a senior partner for help. Join the Behind the Knife EGS team at Mizzou as we dive into the art and grit of open cholecystectomy. From fundus-first dissection to navigating the “barrier to happiness,” this episode is packed with surgical pearls, tough love, and the kind of wisdom only scars can teach...

You’re on call at a level I trauma center and you get called that you’re receiving a large TBSA burn patient – you’re not working at a burn center! You remember hearing about some controversy surrounding burn resuscitation – was it the parkland formula? Consensus formula? ABSITE asked about the Modified Brooke Formula?!? Join Dr. Kathleen Romanowski, Dr. Laura Johnson, Dr. Victoria Miles, and Dr....

Today, we’re diving into a condition that’s as fascinating as it is complex: Achalasia —where the esophagus stops playing nice, and swallowing becomes a daily challenge. We’re breaking down the latest evidence , comparing POEM, pneumatic dilation, and Heller myotomy , and digging into what actually matters when deciding how to treat each achalasia subtype. Join show hosts Drs. Jake Greenberg, Dana...

Every spring for over 50 years, the Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery conference, best known simply as the MATTOX conference, is held in Las Vegas ( https://www.trauma-criticalcare.com/ ).  The conference is unique in that it is entirely focused on practice-changing clinical education. It’s a damn good time too!  A favorite feature is the annual debates.  Today, we are featuring a show...

Every spring for over 50 years, the Trauma, Critical Care, and Acute Care Surgery conference, best known simply as the MATTOX conference, is held in Las Vegas ( https://www.trauma-criticalcare.com/ ).  The conference is unique in that it is entirely focused on practice-changing clinical education. It’s a damn good time too!  A favorite feature is the annual debates.  Today, we are featuring a show...

In this episode of the Big T Trauma Series, Dr. Patrick Georgoff (@georgoff) and Dr. Jason Brill dive into the evolving world of Trauma Video Review (TVR) with special guests Dr. Michael Vella and Dr. Ryan Dumas. Together, they explore how TVR is transforming trauma care by offering unprecedented insight into both technical and non-technical performance in the trauma bay. The conversation covers e...

The incidence of early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) has been rising prompting the change in change in screening guidelines to 45 years of age for average risk patients. Join us for an in-depth discussion with guest speakers Dr. Andrea Cercek and Dr. Nancy You, where we provide a comprehensive look at the growing challenge of EOCRC. Hosts: - Dr. Janet Alvarez - General Surgery Resident at New Yo...

You have probably seen recent headlines that Microsoft has developed an AI model that is 4x more accurate than humans at difficult diagnoses. It’s been published everywhere, AI is 80% accurate compared to a measly 20% human rate, and AI was cheaper too! Does this signal the end of the human physician? Is the title nothing more than clickbait? Or is the truth somewhere in-between? Join Behind the K...

Join us as we dissect the use of robotics in bariatric surgery – where precision meets programming, and the scalpel gets a software upgrade. Video Clip Link: https://app.behindtheknife.org/video/clinical-challenges-in-robotic-bariatric-surgery-the-robot-is-here-to-stay This videos includes: - Robotic RYGB - Robotic Sleeve Gastrectomy - SADI: Single Anastomosis Duodenoileostomy Hosts:  - Matthew Ma...

It’s 2 a.m. The on-call resident’s voice is shaky. The CT shows an 18cm abdominal aortic aneurysm with a Type 1B endoleak. There’s gas in the sac, fluid in the belly, and the patient has a defibrillator on both sides of his chest. Is it a rupture? A graft infection? An aortoenteric fistula? All of the above? You’re the vascular surgeon, what do you do?  This episode dives deep into decision-making...

In the corner of the ICU, on multiple pressors, distended, oliguric, and intubated you’ll find the necrotizing pancreatitis patient. Sounds intimidating, but with the persistence, patience, and the proper care these patients can make it! In this episode from the HPB team at Behind the Knife listen in as we discuss the Step-Up approach, when to surgically intervene, various approaches to pancreatic...