Philippine Journal of Surgical Specialties Vol. 81, No. 1, January-June 2026, pp 25-32
CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2025
Award-winning Surgical Research & Case Reports
The Champion of Champions is the Annual Surgical Research Contest held by the Philippine College of Surgeons, every December during the Annual Clinical Congress. It features winners from national research contests of the different surgical specialties. We showcase the winning entries of the competition from the College’s 2025 81st Annual Clinical Congress.
The award-winning research:
First Place:
Outcomes of Elective Tracheostomy and Delayed Extubation Following Microvascular Head and Neck Free Flap Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis This study provides clarity on airway management protocols for complex reconstructive procedures.
Second Place:
Impact of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Protocol on Clinical Outcomes in Emergency Colorectal Surgery: A Retrospective Cohort Study This study challenges traditional recovery models by demonstrating the efficacy of ERAS in high-stakes, emergency settings.
Third Place:
A Five-year Review Comparing Pathologic Tumor Response to Neoadjuvant Treatment Between Young-Onset and Late-Onset Rectal Cancer: A Retrospective Study This is a significant institutional review exploring how age-based clinical differences influence treatment outcomes in rectal oncology.
The winning case reports:
First Place:
A Rare Case of Skin Adnexal Adenocarcinoma Presenting as an Exophytic Tumor in the Pubic Area of a 49-year-old Male A rare look at an aggressive malignancy that underscores the importance of thorough histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation.
Second Place:
Complete Hypopharyngeal Obliteration Secondary to Caustic Ingestion Injury A comprehensive review of the acute management and complex reconstructive challenges posed by corrosive upper gastrointestinal trauma.
Third Place:
Esophageal Lung in an Eight-Month-Old Female Presenting with Resting Respiratory Distress A striking report on a rare foregut malformation, demonstrating the multidisciplinary approach required for neonatal surgical care. We congratulate these researchers for their dedication and invaluable contributions. We invite our readers to review these remarkable posters which serve as a testament to the diverse and evolving challenges encountered in Philippine surgical practice.
The Editors