Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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In trauma patients, the admission value of arterial base deficit stratifies injury severity, predicts complications, and is correlated with arterial lactate concentration. In theory, elevated base deficit and lactate concentrations after shock are related to oxygen transport imbalance at the cellular level. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that an elevated base deficit in trauma patients is indicative of impaired systemic oxygen utilization and portends poor outcomes. ⋯ In trauma patients, a persistently high arterial base deficit is associated with altered oxygen utilization and an increased risk of multiple organ failure and mortality. Serial monitoring of base deficit may be useful in assessing the adequacy of oxygen transport and resuscitation.
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Because of the rarity of hilar cholangiocarcinoma, its prognostic risk factors have not been sufficiently analyzed. This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate various pathologic risk factors which influenced survival after curative hepatic resection or transplantation. ⋯ Satisfactory longterm survivals can be obtained by curative surgery for hilar cholangiocarcinoma either with hepatic resection or liver transplantation. Redefining pTNM stage III and IV-A is proposed to better define prognosis.
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Controversy still surrounds the management of fulminant acute necrotizing pancreatitis. Because mortality rates continue to be high, especially in patients with fulminant acute pancreatitis and infected necrosis, aggressive surgical techniques, such as open management of the abdomen and "planned" reoperations, seem to be justified. ⋯ Open management of the abdomen followed by planned reoperations is an aggressive but reasonably successful surgical treatment strategy for patients with fulminant acute pancreatitis and infected necrosis. Morbidity and mortality rates were high, but in these critically ill patients, such high rates could be expected. Because management and clinical surveillance require specific expertise, management of these patients is best undertaken in specialized centers.
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Operating for bleeding gastric ulcer remains controversial. Gastric resection bears a higher surgical risk while limited operation may result in more postoperative hemorrhage. There has been little discussion of effective risk assessment of patients. The aim of this study is to define surgical risk by using the APACHE II scoring system, and to determine optimal management. ⋯ APACHE II score is a useful tool for assessing risk in patients with bleeding gastric ulcer. The mortality is minimal in those with a score <15, and PGR can be performed with low risk. Although high-risk patients have dreadful outcomes, limited operation cannot improve them if postoperative hemorrhage occurs. Decision making in emergency operation for such patients should be based on the ulcer conditions and the patient's hemodynamic status.
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The aim of operative chest wall stabilization in patients with flail chest and respiratory insufficiency is to reduce ventilator time and avoid ventilator associated complications. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the indications and outcomes of operative chest wall stabilization in defined groups of patients sustaining flail chest with and without pulmonary contusion. ⋯ In patients with flail chest and respiratory insufficiency without pulmonary contusion, operative chest wall stabilization permits early extubation. Patients with pulmonary contusion do not benefit from chest wall stabilization. Secondary operative chest wall stabilization in these patients is indicated when progressive collapse of the chest wall is evident during weaning from the ventilator.