World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Aug 2009
Prophylactic thoracic duct mass ligation prevents chylothorax after transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer.
Chylothorax after transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening postoperative complication. It has been reported that preventive thoracic duct ligation can reduce the incidence of postoperative chylothorax after esophagectomy for cancer. In this prospective series, we evaluated the results of preventive intraoperative thoracic duct mass ligation in patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer. ⋯ In this series, the technique of intraoperative thoracic duct mass ligation proved to be safe and effectively prevented postoperative chylothorax in patients who underwent transthoracic esophagectomy for cancer.
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World journal of surgery · Aug 2009
Modified maximal thymectomy for thymic epithelial tumors: predictors of survival and neurological outcome in patients with thymomatous myasthenia gravis.
Thymic epithelial tumors are characterized by slow growth and variable malignant behavior. We present our experience on the surgical management of these tumors. ⋯ Modified maximal thymectomy is safe and efficient in the treatment of thymomas. WHO histology is the prime determinant of tumor aggressiveness and patient survival. Paraneoplastic myasthenia gravis and its outcome after thymectomy is significantly correlated with the WHO classification subtypes; however, lower CSR rates are not necessarily associated with more aggressive histological subgroups.
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World journal of surgery · Aug 2009
Use of leukoreduced blood does not reduce infection, organ failure, or mortality following trauma.
Leukoreduced (LR) blood has been demonstrated to reduce morbidity and mortality in high-risk surgical patients, but not in trauma patients. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of LR blood on morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that the use of LR blood does not improve outcome in trauma patients. ⋯ This study represents the largest series comparing trauma patients who received either LR or standard blood transfusions. The use of LR blood does not improve outcome in trauma patients.