Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Multicenter Study
Outcomes of synthetic mesh in contaminated ventral hernia repairs.
Given the questionable long-term durability of biologic meshes, additional prosthetic options for ventral hernia repairs (VHR) in contaminated fields are necessary. Recent evidence suggests improved bacterial resistance of reduced-weight, large-pore synthetics, giving a potential mesh alternative for repair of contaminated hernias. We aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of 2 institutions' experience implanting lightweight polypropylene synthetic mesh in clean-contaminated and contaminated fields. ⋯ Although perhaps not yet considered standard of care in the United States, we have demonstrated favorable infection, recurrence, and mesh removal rates associated with the use of synthetic mesh in contaminated VHR.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
The "hidden curriculum" and residents' attitudes about medical error disclosure: comparison of surgical and nonsurgical residents.
The "hidden curriculum" and role models for responding to medical errors might play a central role in influencing residents' attitudes about disclosure. We sought to compare surgical and nonsurgical residents' exposure to role modeling for responding to medical errors and their attitudes about error disclosure. ⋯ The punitive response to error by senior members of the health care team might be an impediment to the transparent disclosure of errors among residents that might disproportionally affect surgical training programs.
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Multicenter Study Controlled Clinical Trial
Systematic use of an intraoperative air leak test at the time of major liver resection reduces the rate of postoperative biliary complications.
After hepatectomy, bile leaks remain a major cause of morbidity, cost, and disability. This study was designed to determine if a novel intraoperative air leak test (ALT) would reduce the incidence of post-hepatectomy biliary complications. ⋯ The ALT is an easily reproducible test that is highly effective for intraoperative detection and repair of open bile ducts, reducing the rate of postoperative bile leaks.
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Multicenter Study
Experience with an enteral-based nutritional support regimen in critically ill trauma patients.
Assuring adequate enteral nutritional support in critically ill patients is challenging. By describing our experience, we sought to characterize the challenges, benefits, and complications of an approach that stresses enteral nutrition. ⋯ Enteral caloric intake during the first week was related to the pattern and severity of injury and was associated with important infectious outcomes. Our observations support moderating enteral intake during the first week after injury and avoiding parenteral nutrition.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Patient factors associated with undergoing laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding vs Roux-en-Y gastric bypass for weight loss.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding are 2 commonly performed bariatric procedures in the US with different profiles for risk and effectiveness. Little is known about factors that might lead patients to proceed with one procedure over the other. ⋯ Patients' diabetes status, quality of life, eating behavior, ideal weight loss, and willingness to assume mortality risk to lose weight were associated with whether patients proceeded with gastric banding as opposed to gastric bypass. Other clinical factors were less important.