Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI)-related morbidity is caused largely by secondary injury resulting from hypoxia, excessive sympathetic drive, and uncontrolled inflammation. Aeromedical evacuation (AE) is utilized by the military for transport of wounded soldiers to higher levels of care. We hypothesized that the hypobaric, hypoxic conditions of AE may exacerbate uncontrolled inflammation following TBI that could contribute to more severe TBI-related secondary injury. ⋯ The hypobaric environment of AE induces systemic inflammation following TBI. Severe inflammation may play a role in exacerbating secondary injury associated with TBI and contribute to worse neurocognitive outcomes. Measures should be taken to minimize barometric and oxygenation changes during AE following TBI.
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For open minor hepatectomy, morbidity and recovery are dominated by the incision. The robotic approach may transform this "incision dominant procedure" into a safe outpatient procedure. ⋯ Outpatient robotic hepatectomies in well-selected cases are safe (0 mortality, 2% complication, 1.6% re-admission), including resections in the superior or posterior portions of the liver that are challenging with non-articulating laparoscopic instruments.
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Neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy(nCRT) for rectal cancer can lead to structural changes in collagen in the tumor microenvironment and increase the risk of postoperative anastomotic stenosis (AS). However, the quantitative relationship between AS and collagen has not been defined. This study is to quantitatively analyze the collagen features in rectal cancer and explore the relationship between the changes of collagen and postoperative anastomotic stenosis after nCRT. ⋯ CS is an independent risk factor for AS in rectal cancer after nCRT. The predictive model based on CS can predict the occurrence of postoperative AS.
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The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) is widely utilized for body region-specific injury severity. The AAST-Organ Injury Scale (AAST-OIS) provides organ-specific injury severity but is not included in trauma databases. Previous researchers have used AIS as a surrogate for OIS. This study aims to assess AIS-abdomen concordance with AAST-OIS grade for liver and spleen injuries, hypothesizing concordance in terms of severity (grade of OIS and AIS) and patient outcomes. ⋯ AIS should not be used interchangeably with OIS due to lack of concordance. AAST-OIS should be included in trauma databases to facilitate improved organ injury research and quality improvement projects.
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The lack of consensus on equity measurement and its incorporation into quality-assessment programs at the hospital and system levels may be a barrier to addressing disparities in surgical care. This study aimed to identify population-level and within-hospital differences in the quality of surgical care provision. ⋯ Following risk adjustment, very few hospitals demonstrated significant disparities in care. Disparities were more frequently detected by ADI than by race and ethnicity. The lack of substantial in-hospital disparities may be due to the use of postoperative metrics, small sample sizes, the risk adjustment methodology, and healthcare segregation. Further work should examine surgical access and healthcare segregation.