Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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The Intrabeam (Carl Zeiss) brachytherapy device (IB) is an electronic brachytherapy device that can be used to deliver low energy x-rays (50 kV) to a lumpectomy cavity at the time of lumpectomy for breast cancer. Reported experience with IB for breast cancer in the United States has been extremely limited. Here we describe our experience and analyze the impact of IB on our multidisciplinary breast cancer program. ⋯ Implementation of IB impacts treatment planning and operating room use in a multidisciplinary breast cancer program. The safety profile, ease of administration, and reduced costs of IB favor its more widespread use in selected patients with early-stage breast cancer.
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Pancreatectomy or drainage has been advocated for pain due to chronic pancreatitis. Islet cell autotransplantation (IAT) may improve quality of life (QOL); optimal patient selection has not been established. ⋯ After pancreatic resection with planned IAT, AP resulted in failed isolations, lower yields, higher insulin requirements, poor long-term QOL improvement, and no improvement in pain scores compared with NAP. Further studies should define criteria for resection and IAT for patients with alcoholic chronic pancreatitis.
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Bedside percutaneous dilational tracheostomy has been demonstrated to be equivalent to open tracheostomy. At our institution, percutaneous dilational tracheostomy without routine bronchoscopy is our preferred method. My colleagues and I hypothesized that our 10-year percutaneous dilational tracheostomy experience would demonstrate that the technique is safe with low complication rates, even in obese patient populations. ⋯ Bedside percutaneous dilational tracheostomy is safe across a broad critically ill patient population. The safety of this technique, even in the obese population, is demonstrated by its low complication rate. Routine bronchoscopic guidance is not necessary. Specially trained procedure nurse and process improvement programs contribute to the safety and efficacy of this procedure.
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Trauma systems are designed to deliver timely and appropriate care. Prehospital triage regulations and interfacility transfer guidelines are the primary determinants of system efficacy. We analyzed the effectiveness of the Florida trauma system in delivering trauma patients to trauma centers over time. ⋯ Triage improved over time, enabling near complete capture of at-risk children and adults independent of DTC proximity. Because distance from a DTC does not limit access for children and adults, existing trauma system resources are sufficient to meet the current demands. Efforts are needed to determine the trauma resource and triage needs of the severely injured elderly.
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Bariatric surgery (BAR) has been established as an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in obese patients. However, few studies have examined the mid- to long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery in diabetic populations. Specifically, no comparative studies have broadly examined major macrovascular and microvascular complications in bariatric surgical patients vs similar, nonbariatric surgery controls. ⋯ Bariatric surgery is associated with a 65% reduction in major macrovascular and microvascular events in moderately and severely obese patients with T2DM.