Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Patients with Complicated Intra-abdominal Infection Presenting with Sepsis Do Not Require Longer Duration of Antimicrobial Therapy.
A recent prospective, multicenter, randomized controlled trial found that 4 days of antibiotics after source control of complicated intra-abdominal infections resulted in similar outcomes when compared with longer duration. We hypothesized that the subset of patients presenting with sepsis have similar outcomes when treated with the shorter course of antibiotics. ⋯ There was no difference in outcomes between short and long-course antimicrobial therapy in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection presenting with sepsis. Our findings suggest that the presence of systemic illness does not mandate a longer antimicrobial course if source control of complicated intra-abdominal infection is obtained.
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A new era in organ donation with national redistricting is being proposed. With these proposals, costs of organ acquisition are estimated to more than double. Traditionally, organ recoveries occur in the donor hospital setting, incurring premium hospital expenses. The aim of the study was to determine organ recovery costs and organ yield for donor recoveries performed at an organ procurement organization (OPO) facility. ⋯ An OPO facility for donor organ recovery increases efficiency and organ yield, reduces costs, and minimizes organ acquisition charge. As we face new considerations with broader sharing, increased efficiencies, cost. and organ use should be considered.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Molecular Staging of Sentinel Lymph Nodes Identifies Melanoma Patients at Increased Risk of Nodal Recurrence.
Molecular staging of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) may identify patients who are node-negative by standard microscopic staging but are at increased risk for regional nodal recurrence; such patients may benefit from completion lymph node dissection (CLND). ⋯ Patients with microscopically negative/PCR+ SLN have an increased risk of nodal recurrence that was mitigated by CLND. Although CLND did not affect OS, these data suggest that molecular detection of melanoma-specific mRNA in the SLN predicts a greater risk of nodal recurrence and deserves further study.
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Multicenter Study
Acute Fibrinolysis Shutdown after Injury Occurs Frequently and Increases Mortality: A Multicenter Evaluation of 2,540 Severely Injured Patients.
Fibrinolysis is a physiologic process that maintains microvascular patency by breaking down excessive fibrin clot. Hyperfibrinolysis is associated with a doubling of mortality. Fibrinolysis shutdown, an acute impairment of fibrinolysis, has been recognized as a risk factor for increased mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence and outcomes of fibrinolysis phenotypes in 2 urban trauma centers. ⋯ Fibrinolysis shutdown is the most common phenotype on admission and is associated with increased mortality. These data provide additional evidence of distinct phenotypes of coagulation impairment and that individualized hemostatic therapy may be required.