Annals of surgery
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Telemedicine in surgery holds promise for improving access and decreasing costs, but its role remains ill-defined. This pilot study was performed to investigate the safety, feasibility, and financial implications of providing postoperative care using an electronic clinic (eClinic) at a university hospital. ⋯ A safe and efficient postoperative telemedicine program can be constructed utilizing a widely available electronic medical record system, which can improve patient satisfaction, optimize throughput, and increase gross charges for the healthcare system.
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To evaluate whether an association exists between the intensity of surveillance following surgical resection for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and survival. ⋯ These nationally representative data provide evidence that more frequent postsurgical surveillance is not associated with improved survival. As the number of lung cancer survivors increases over the next decade, surveillance is an increasingly important major health care concern and expenditure.
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This study aims to evaluate the trends in cancer (CA) admissions and surgeries after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Medicaid expansion. ⋯ In states that expanded Medicaid coverage under the ACA, the rate of surgeries for colorectal and lung CA increased significantly, while breast CA surgeries decreased less. Parenthetically, these cancers are subject to population screening programs. We conclude that expanding insurance coverage results in enhanced access to cancer surgery.
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To determine whether the association between overall survival (OS) and response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in breast cancer patients varies with tumor subtype and anatomic extent of pathologic complete response (pCR). ⋯ In node-positive patients, pCR limited to either the breast or axilla predicts survival for select receptor subtypes. In patients achieving pCR in both the breast and axilla, survival is driven by response to NACT rather than presenting cN stage.
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To evaluate the outcomes and learning curve of fenestrated and branched endovascular repair (F/BEVAR) of thoracoabdominal aneurysms. ⋯ Use of F/BEVAR for treatment of thoracoabdominal aneurysms is safe and effective. During this early experience, there was a significant improvement in key process measures reflecting improvements in technique and physician learning over time.