Autor:innen Guidelines

SWISS  KNIFE is the official publication of the Swiss College of Surgeons (SCS) and the Swiss Surgical Society (SGC/SSC). For 20 years, the journal has been published quarterly and sent to all surgeons practicing in Switzerland. With SWISS  KNIFE going digital, we invite you to submit your article covering one of the following topics:

• Politics: Contributions discussing relevant policy changes affecting Swiss surgeons.
• Education: Articles highlighting specialty training in Switzerland, innovations in the field of surgical education, surgical innovations, emerging technologies, techniques and methods.
• Surgical Research: Surgical research conducted and recent abstracts published by Swiss surgeons
• Focus: Articles discussing “hot topics” or topics addressing an ongoing discussion in the surgical world.
• “Blick über den Tellerrand”: Thinking outside the box:  surgical topics from a different perspective.
• Images in Surgery: Short case reports together with a surgical, anatomical or radiological image (see detailed description below).

To simplify your submission process, SWISS KNIFE asks authors to follow the submission guidelines below:

• Language: Preferably in English. Alternatively in German AND French. Please use gender-neutral language adhering to the following format: e.g., Ärzt:innen. 
• Character limit: 15'000 - 18'000 characters for full length articles; 5'000 - 6'000 characters for limited articles (e.g., editorial, journal club)
• Format: Word file; plain font; double-spaced; including page numbers; italics for emphasis
• Structure: Concise, informative title; short introductory paragraph (≤50 words); we encourage you to use subheadings for improved structure and readability
• Authors: Max. of four authors; for all authors submit full names and e-mail address for correspondence; please send us a current portrait of all authors.
• Conflict of interest: Authors must disclose all relationships or interests that could have direct or potential influence or impart bias on their article.
• References: Authors are asked to cite the relevant references for the article using the Vancouver system in chronological order (not alphabetically). References may not appear in your reference list unless cited in the text.
  • Example: Dindo D, Demartines N, Clavien P-A. Classification of Surgical Complications. Annals of Surgery. 2004;240(2):205-13

We strongly encourage using tables, figures and illustrations as a welcome adjunct to improve the SWISS  KNIFE experience for our readership. To ensure homogeneity through articles, we ask you to follow the instructions below:

• Authors are required to add the source of figures and illustrations.
• Include figure legends in the main manuscript file, at the end of the text. 
• All figures need to be submitted in a separate image file (JPG or PNG). 
  • Format: 16:9, ≥ 1000 px
• All tables need to be submitted in a separate word file. 

With SWISS  KNIFE going digital, we invite you to engage in our interactive learning experience by illustrating interesting and educational cases of your everyday surgical life. To ensure homogeneity through ''Images in Surgery'' -articles, we encourage you to follow the instructions below:

General information

• Author: preferably (not exclusively) a resident of a Swiss residency program
• Language: English
• Scope: Report of a novel, interesting or important aspect (an "image to remember") of a clinical presentation, diagnostics or treatment of a disease relevant in surgical practice in one or several patients encountered in the author's department.
• Character limit: 4000 characters
• Tables/Figures: At least one figure is mandatory; max. two tables or figures (for format requirements, see ''Submission Guidelines'')
• References: Max. 10 references; Vancouver style
• Structure: Start with a brief case summary of ≤ 50 words. 
• Informed consent: The patient(s) or next of kin need to provide written or oral (documented telephone call) consent for publication in SWISS KNIFE. Authors are required to submit consent as separate word or PDF file.
• Review process: Case reports are reviewed by two members of the editorial board. Revisions must be resubmitted within 90 days.

Article structure

1. Case description (max. 3000 characters): Start with a short and concise description with main focus on history of the current disease or injury, including all relevant diagnostic steps and work-up. Provide at least one figure or series of up to five subfigures (labelled A-E) to illustrate eye-catching radiological or intraoperative findings. Finish your case description with multiple-choice question with five possible answers (e.g., What is the most likely diagnosis?, What is the most appropriate next step in diagnostics/treatment?).
2. Case solution (max. 1000 characters): Provide the solution to your question and the reasoning behind, preferably underscoring your point by including a table or figure.