Annals of surgery
-
To study alterations of serum levels of the pancreatic reg family of proteins in two models of acute pancreatitis. ⋯ After induction of pancreatitis, serum levels of reg I and III protein differ significantly. Reg III/PAP levels are a sensitive marker of pancreatic injury and early in the disease may be a useful prognostic indicator for disease severity.
-
To test the hypothesis that pancreas transplantation using the more physiologic method of portal venous-enteric (PE) drainage could be performed without compromising patient and graft outcome, compared with the standard method of systemic venous-bladder (SB) drainage. ⋯ The PE method of pancreas transplantation can be performed with excellent patient and graft outcomes.
-
To examine the influence of race and other potentially confounding variables on the outcome of carotid endarterectomy (CEA). ⋯ Black patients who underwent elective CEA in Maryland from 1990 to 1995 had an increased incidence of in-hospital stroke, a longer hospital stay, and higher hospital charges than whites. Black race was identified as an independent risk factor for in-hospital stroke, although the reasons for this influence of race on outcome are undefined. The authors' observations also suggest the possibility of limited access to optimal surgical care among blacks, and this issue warrants further study.