Surgery
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Burn-induced compartment syndrome is a severe sequela after circumferential burns of the extremities and is avoidable by immediate release of the underlying pressure under the eschar. Although the current gold standard is operative escharotomy, this procedure carries considerable morbidity. Our study evaluates the safety and effectiveness of immediate enzymatic debridement to prevent the need for operative escharotomy because of burn-induced compartment syndrome in selected patients. ⋯ If the specific contraindications are respected, enzymatic debridement is safe and effective for the prevention of burn-induced compartment syndrome after deep circumferential burns at the upper extremity, and thus making operative escharotomy unnecessary.
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Observational Study
Nodal downstaging as a treatment goal for node-positive pancreatic cancer.
Nodal metastases portend a poor prognosis in patients with localized pancreatic cancer. Neoadjuvant therapy is associated with pathologic nodal downstaging in up to 38% of patients. However, the optimal type of neoadjuvant therapy for achieving nodal downstaging is unclear. ⋯ Nodal downstaging is associated with a survival benefit in patients with node-positive pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and is most likely to be achieved with neoadjuvant therapy that includes radiation. Single-agent chemotherapy neoadjuvant therapy was least likely to result in nodal downstaging.
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To determine whether utilization of a retrieval bag during laparoscopic appendectomy for uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis (perforation/abscess) is associated with postoperative surgical site infection rates. ⋯ Utilization of a retrieval bag during laparoscopic appendectomy is not associated with a statistically significant decrease in postoperative surgical site infection for either uncomplicated or complicated acute appendicitis.
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Cognitive impairment is prevalent in older surgical patients; however, the condition is greatly under-recognized, and outcomes associated with it are poorly understood. ⋯ We recommend a routine cognitive assessment in an emergency surgical setting whenever feasible to help identify patients at risk of poor outcomes.
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The aim of this systematic review is to assess the role of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography in the preoperative evaluation of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms and cystic lesions of the pancreas. ⋯ The 18-fluorodeoxyblucose positron emission tomography had a high degree of accuracy of detecting malignancy in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and cystic lesion of the pancreas. Comparison of the utility of positron emission tomography with the Fukuoka consensus guidelines and the Sendai consensus guidelines suggest that positron emission tomography is superior to present guidelines in detecting malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and cystic lesion of the pancreas. Further studies in larger patient cohorts may be required to corroborate these findings and to determine the place of positron emission tomography in the management of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and cystic lesions of the pancreas.