World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Jun 1997
Risks of the minimal access approach for laparoscopic surgery: multivariate analysis of morbidity related to umbilical trocar insertion.
The objective of this study was to determine the morbidity associated with trocar and needle insertion for laparoscopic surgery and to identify risk factors for complications. Data from a prospectively collected database of all laparoscopic operations performed at a major teaching hospital over a 4-year period were analyzed. In 203 patients closed laparoscopy (Veress needle plus blind trocar insertion) was used to establish the pneumoperitoneum. ⋯ Age, gender, obesity, diabetes mellitus, previous abdominal surgery, and the specific procedure had no influence. In conclusion, gaining access to the peritoneal cavity for laparoscopic surgery may cause severe complications, most of which are related to the umbilical trocar. Although closed laparoscopy can be safely used, open laparoscopy is associated with a lower morbidity rate; therefore its utilization is recommended.
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World journal of surgery · Jun 1997
Clinical TrialPrevention of postoperative late kyphosis in Pott's disease by anterior decompression and intervertebral grafting.
A total of 185 patients with Pott's disease were operated on between 1973 and 1992. Anterior decompression by preserving the pleura (extrapleural approach) was the preferred method in the thoracic spine. In the lumbar spine the approach was retroperitoneal, and interbody fusion was performed in both for the thoracic and the lumbar regions. ⋯ The mean follow-up period was 7.5 years. Thirty-two of the cases were admitted to the clinic because of Pott's paraplegia: 19 of the cases recovered completely following anterior decompression; partial recovery was observed in 5 cases; but 3 cases did not recover. Various complications, including seven deaths, were observed in 42 of the cases.
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World journal of surgery · Jun 1997
Function of "nontrauma" surgeons in level I trauma centers in the United States.
Although the general "trauma" surgeon is usually the team leader in level I trauma centers, the use of surgical subspecialists and nonsurgeons is frequently ill-defined. This study was done to gain data in regard to actual use of subspecialists in busy centers. First, a survey of the patterns of staffing in 140 trauma centers was elicited by mail questionnaire, supplemented by telephone cells. ⋯ At our center, a mean of 1.92 subspecialists, in addition to general surgeons, were involved in the early care of each patient. Problems exist in many centers regarding the use of subspecialists, especially for management of facial and chest injuries. In some centers nonsurgeons function in the intensive care unit, and as admitting and attending physicians of trauma patients.