Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Recent studies on postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) prevention suggest that omission of perioperative drains is safe for negligible- or low-risk patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy (PD). However, this proposed pathway has not been validated in a nationwide cohort. ⋯ In this population-based cohort, the mFRS was unable to stratify patients relative to the need for selective drain placement during PD. For both high- and low-risk patients, perioperative drain placement was associated with increased rates of POPF, CR-POPF, and extended LOS, but decreased incidence of serious morbidity.
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Observational Study
Impact of New Vascular Fellowship Programs on Vascular Surgery Operative Volume of Residents in Associated General Surgery Programs.
General surgery (GS) resident vascular surgery (VS) operations have declined significantly in the last 15 years. We hypothesized that initiation of VS fellowship programs (VSFPs) contributes to that decline. This study examined the effect of establishing new VSFPs on VS case volumes of residents in associated GS programs. ⋯ New VSFPs diminished peak VS operative volume of residents in associated GS programs, thereby contributing to declining national average number of VS cases done by GS residents. Nevertheless, resident VS case volumes remained robust in most GS programs associated with new VSFPs. Additional study is required to determine both resident perception and overall impact of VSFPs on associated GS training.
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Observational Study
Surgical Site Infection after Primary Closure of High-Risk Surgical Wounds in Emergency General Surgery Laparotomies and Closed Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy.
We hypothesized that the universal adoption of closed wounds with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) in emergency general surgery patients would result in low superficial surgical infection (SSI) rates. ⋯ Primary closure of high risk incisions combined with NPWT is associated with acceptably low SSI rates. Due to the low morbidity and decreased cost associated with this technique, primary closure with NPWT should replace open wound management in the emergency general surgery population.
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Current guidelines suggest that cholecystectomy during the third trimester of pregnancy is safe for both the woman and the fetus. However, no population-based study has examined this issue. The aim of this analysis was to compare the results of cholecystectomy during the third trimester of pregnancy with outcomes in women operated on in the early postpartum period in a large population. ⋯ Maternal delivery and procedure-related outcomes were worse when cholecystectomy was performed during the third trimester of pregnancy. Preterm delivery, which is associated with multiple adverse infant outcomes, was increased in third-trimester women. Whenever possible, cholecystectomy should be delayed until the postpartum period.
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In the 8th edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer melanoma staging system, the T1b category has been redefined based solely on thickness and ulceration. National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend consideration of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) for all patients with T1b melanomas (0.8 to 1.0 mm thick). We hypothesized that the new staging system would lead to excessive use of SLNB in patients with non-ulcerated T1b melanomas with a low risk of positive sentinel lymph nodes. ⋯ The new 8th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer melanoma staging system T1b category should not be used to determine use of SLNB in thin melanoma, as more than one half of T1b lesions without ulceration have a low risk of positive sentinel lymph nodes.