Bmc Surg
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Observational Study
VA Vascular Injury Study (VAVIS): VA-DoD extremity injury outcomes collaboration.
Limb injuries comprise 50-60% of U.S. Service member's casualties of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Combat-related vascular injuries are present in 12% of this cohort, a rate 5 times higher than in prior wars. Improvements in medical and surgical trauma care, including initial in-theatre limb salvage approaches (IILS) have resulted in improved survival and fewer amputations, however, the long-term outcomes such as morbidity, functional decline, and risk for late amputation of salvaged limbs using current process of care have not been studied. The long-term care of these injured warfighters poses a significant challenge to the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). ⋯ This study will provide key information about the current process of care for Active Duty Service members and Veterans with polytrauma/vascular injuries at risk for persistent morbidity and late amputation. The results of this study will be the first step for clinicians in VA and military settings to generate evidence-based treatment and care approaches to these injuries. It will identify areas where rehabilitation medicine and vascular specialty care or telehealth options are needed to allow for better planning, resource utilization, and improved DoD-to-VA care transitions.
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Japan has one of the highest five-year relative survival rates for colorectal cancer in the world, with its own traditions of perioperative care and a unique insurance system. The benefits of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols in the Japanese population have yet to be clarified. ⋯ ERAS protocols for colorectal surgery helped reduce the length of postoperative hospital stay without adversely affecting morbidity, indicating that ERAS protocols are feasible and effective in Japanese settings as well.
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Review Case Reports
A rare case of spontaneous inguinal faecal fistula as a complication of incarcerated Richter's hernia with brief review of literature.
Richter's hernia has an early misleading presentation with tendency to strangulation due to common lack of obstructive symptoms which may lead to delay in diagnosis and hence increased mortality. Rarely inguinal Richter's hernia may present with an uncommon complication of spontaneous fistula. The development of spontaneous faecal fistula secondary to incarcerated inguinal hernias is much rarer among the adult population as compared to the paediatric age group. Most of these fistula have been reported from developing countries like India and Nigeria and is usually the result of poverty, lack of knowledge, neglect, late presentation and lack of proper management. ⋯ Spontaneous faecal fistula in inguinal region following rupture of strangulated Richter's hernia especially in adults is very rare and can occur even in absence of obstructive symptoms. In presentation of any groin swelling, there is need for an early accurate diagnosis followed by prompt treatment. The delay in its diagnosis and management may result in this rare complication of spontaneous faecal fistula. This reflects the state of health care in the developing world and needs to be addressed by the concerned authorities.
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Comparative Study
Acute bilateral mass-occupying lesions in non-penetrating traumatic brain injury: a retrospective study.
Traumatic acute bilateral mass-occupying lesions (TABML) is a common entity in head injury, with high morbidity and mortality. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the benefits of different treatment options and the outcome predictors in patients with TABML. ⋯ TABML is suggestive of severe brain injury. As conservative treatment is always associated with a poorer outcome, surgery is advocated, especially in patients with a GCS score of ≥ 6. Whereas the prognostic value of midline shift might be limited because of the counter-mass effect in TABML, the GCS score, the pupillary reactivity, and particularly, the compression of basal cisterns should be emphasized.
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The federal and provincial governments in Canada have invested an enormous amount of resources to measure, report and reduce surgical wait times. Yet these measures under-report the wait period that patients' actually experience, because they do not capture the length of time a patient spends waiting to see the surgeon for a surgical assessment. This unmeasured time is referred to as the "wait one" (W1). Little is known about W1 and the effects that this has on patients' health. Similarly, it is not understood whether patients waiting for surgical assessment actually want or need surgery. Existing administrative and clinical dataset do not capture information on health and decision-making while the patient is waiting for care form a specialist. The objective of this proposed study is to understand the impact that W1 for elective surgeries has on the health of patients and to determine whether this time can be reduced. ⋯ The results from this study will be used to quantify changes in patients' health while they wait for surgical assessment. Based on this, policy- and decision-makers could design care interventions during W1, aimed at mitigating any negative health consequences associated with waiting. The results from this study will also be used to better understand whether there are factors that predict patients' desire to proceed to surgery. These could be used to guide future research into experimenting with interventions to minimize inappropriate referrals and where they are best targeted.