World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Jan 2008
Fresh whole blood transfusions in coalition military, foreign national, and enemy combatant patients during Operation Iraqi Freedom at a U.S. combat support hospital.
United States military doctrine permits the use of fresh whole blood (FWB), donated by U.S. military personnel on site, for casualties with life-threatening injuries at combat support hospitals. U.S. Military Medical Department policy dictates that all patients treated at military facilities during combat (coalition military personnel, foreign nationals, and enemy combatants) are to be treated equally. The objectives of this study were to describe admission vital signs and laboratory values and injury location for patients transfused with FWB, and to determine if FWB was employed equally among all patient personnel categories at a combat support hospital. ⋯ Fresh whole blood was used for anemic, acidemic, hypothermic, coagulopathic patients with life-threatening traumatic injuries in hemorrhagic shock, and it was transfused in equal percentages and amounts for coalition soldiers, foreign nationals, and enemy combatants.
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World journal of surgery · Jan 2008
Abdominal compartment syndrome: current problems and new strategies.
Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) is a difficult entity with two main problems during its course: (1) survival of the patient during the early period and (2) closure of the open wounds during the late period. In this study we evaluated the decision to decompress according to the level of intraabdominal pressure (IAP) and analysis of any recurrent or persistent increase in IAP. ⋯ In patients with ACS emergency, it is recommended that decompressive laparotomy to be performed even if the IAP falls below 25 mmHg. For patients with IAP levels higher than 25 mmHg, the IAP should be meticulously brought below the cutoff level during the postoperative period.
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World journal of surgery · Dec 2007
Comparative StudyIs preoperative transarterial chemoembolization needed for a resectable hepatocellular carcinoma?
Whether preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) has the therapeutic benefits in patients with resectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains uncertain. ⋯ Preoperative TACE did not significantly improve the disease-free survival or the pattern of recurrence after curative resection of HCC. Even though this study is a retrospective analysis, preoperative TACE cannot be recommended as a routine procedure before hepatectomy for a resectable HCC.
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World journal of surgery · Dec 2007
Comparative StudyTrends in neonatal intestinal obstruction in a developing country, 1996-2005.
Despite the advances in neonatal surgery, the outcome of neonatal intestinal obstruction (NIO) in many developing countries has been reported to be poor. This study describes the trends in NIO, including the contributory factors in southeast Nigeria. ⋯ There is a trend toward earlier presentation and increased survival of babies with NIO in our setting. Improving the existing facilities and trained manpower, and establishing collaboration with centers that have excellent results may further encourage the trend.