Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Esophagectomy has been recommended for patients when recurrent dysphagia develops after Heller myotomy for achalasia. My colleagues and I prefer to correct the specific anatomic problem with redo myotomy and preserve the esophagus. We examined the results of this approach. ⋯ The majority of failures after Heller myotomy present with dysphagia associated with esophageal narrowing. Upper gastrointestinal series is most useful to plan therapy and predicts outcomes. With few exceptions, patients improve substantially with redo myotomy, which can be accomplished laparoscopically with relatively low risk. These findings challenge the previously held concept that all myotomy failures need to be treated by an esophagectomy.
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Stakeholders derive many benefits from cancer clinical trials, including guidance for future oncologic treatment decisions. However, whether enrollment in cancer trials also improves patient survival independently of trial outcomes remains underinvestigated. We hypothesized that cancer trial enrollment is not associated with patient survival outcomes. ⋯ In this first population-based study examining trial effect in solid organ cancers, enrollment into cancer trials predicted lower overall and cancer-specific mortality among common cancer sites. Although these findings may demonstrate a survival benefit due to trial enrollment, they likely also reflect the favorable attributes of trial enrollees. Once corroborated, stakeholders must consider broader cancer trial designs representative of the cancer burden treated in the real world.
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Comparative Study
Impact of chronic renal insufficiency using serum creatinine vs glomerular filtration rate on perioperative clinical outcomes of carotid endarterectomy.
Several studies have reported conflicting results after carotid endarterectomy in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). However, only a few used glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) in their analysis. ⋯ Glomerular filtration rate (Modification of Diet in Renal Disease) was more sensitive in detecting perioperative stroke/death after carotid endarterectomy in patients with CRI. Patients with moderate/severe CRI had more major adverse events than normal patients.
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Comparative Study
Surgical management of complicated diverticulitis: a comparison of the laparoscopic and open approaches.
Laparoscopy has become a commonly used method of performing colectomies, but the outcomes associated with laparoscopy in the emergency setting have not been well studied. ⋯ The laparoscopic approach is associated with lower complication rates compared with the open approach for the surgical treatment of diverticulitis with a primary anastomosis.
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Little is known about the risk of subsequently developing a new or progressive intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) after partial pancreatic resection of a noninvasive IPMN. ⋯ Patients who have undergone resection for noninvasive IPMN require indefinite close surveillance because of the risks of developing a new IPMN, of requiring surgery, and of developing cancer. A family history of pancreatic cancer, but not margin status or degree of dysplasia, is associated with a risk of development of a new or progressive IPMN.