Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is an intervention used in the treatment of medically refractory gastroparesis. There are few large series demonstrating efficacy over a long-term follow-up period. This study reports clinical outcomes for patients from a single institution up to 5 years. ⋯ Gastric electrical stimulation is associated with sustained symptomatic relief, reduced reliance on medications, and reduced hospitalizations in gastroparesis patients selected utilizing our institutional protocol.
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Academic global surgery consists of collaborative partnerships that address surgical inequities through research, training, education, advocacy, and diplomacy. It has been characterized by increased scholastic production through global surgery publications, dedicated global surgery sessions within scientific conferences, global surgery-specific research grants, database development to support global surgery research, global surgery research fellowships, and global surgery-based academic promotion paradigms. The increased emphasis on global surgery research has been accompanied by multiple ethical challenges. This article reviews critical ethical dilemmas presented by global surgery research efforts and proposes interventions on the partnership, infrastructural, and policy levels to enhance fidelity within research partnerships.
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Anti-reflux procedures (ARPs) are effective treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, variation in objective and patient reported outcomes persists. Limited evidence and anecdotal experience suggest that patient sex may play a role. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes after ARPs between male and female patients. ⋯ While patients of either sex experience symptom improvement and low rates of recurrence after ARPs, females are more likely to endorse gas/bloat compared to males. Final distensibility ≥3mm 2/mmHg carries a high risk of recurrence. These results may augment how physicians prognosticate during consultations and tailor their treatments in patients with GERD.
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The direct association between procedure risk and outcomes in elderly emergency general surgery (EGS) patients has not been analyzed. Studies only highlight the importance of frailty. A comprehensive analysis of relevant risk factors and their association with outcomes in elderly EGS patients is lacking. We hypothesized that procedure risk has a stronger association with relevant outcomes in elderly EGS patients compared to frailty. ⋯ Assessing frailty in the elderly EGS patient population without adjusting for the type of procedure or procedure risk ultimately presents an incomplete representation of how frailty impacts patient-related outcomes.