World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Sep 2007
Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate prevents deleterious effects of remote ischemia/reperfusion injury on healing of colonic anastomoses in rats.
Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) is a low-molecular-weight thiol antioxidant and potent inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation. It has been shown to attenuate local harmful effects of ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in many organs. In recent animal studies, a delaying effect of remote organ I/R injury on the healing of colonic anastomoses has been demonstrated. In this study we investigated whether PDTC prevents harmful systemic effects of superior mesenteric I/R on left colonic anastomosis in rats. ⋯ This study showed that PDTC treatment significantly prevented the delaying effect of remote organ I/R injury on anastomotic healing in the colon. Further clinical studies are needed to clarify whether PDTC may be a useful therapeutic agent for increasing the safety of the anastomosis during particular operations where remote organ I/R injury occurs.
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World journal of surgery · Aug 2007
Historical ArticleFrom "spongy" and "cold" hearts to cellular cardiomyoplasty: tales of Canadian contribution to global cardiac surgery.
Despite the small size of its population and the number of its cardiac surgeons, Canadians have participated actively in the birth and development of cardiac surgery during the past half century, with pioneers such as Arthur Vineberg and Wilfred Bigelow leading the way. New and innovative cardiac surgical techniques and their scientific bases were developed and shared globally over the years. Canadian surgeons continue to be productive and are contributing to advances in this field at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Some of these efforts and achievements are illustrated in this review.
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World journal of surgery · Jul 2007
Lung function after the minimal invasive pectus excavatum repair (Nuss procedure).
The Nuss procedure was introduced at our center in 1999. The operation was mainly performed for cosmesis. Little information is available regarding the influence of this operation on lung function. ⋯ After the Nuss procedure for pectus excavatum, there was no improvement of pulmonary function, but neither was the patient's pulmonary function harmed by resolving a largely cosmetic problem.
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World journal of surgery · Jul 2007
Observational teamwork assessment for surgery (OTAS): refinement and application in urological surgery.
Teamwork in surgical teams is at the forefront of good practice guidelines and empirical research as an important aspect of safe surgery. We have developed a comprehensive assessment for teamwork in surgery-the Observational Teamwork Assessment for Surgery (OTAS)-and we have tested it for general surgical procedures. The aim of the research reported here was to extend the assessment to urology procedures. ⋯ Our findings suggest that OTAS is applicable to various branches of surgery. Separate assessment of the subteams in the operating theater provides useful information that can be used to build targeted teamwork training aiming to improve surgical patients' safety and outcomes.
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World journal of surgery · Jul 2007
Epidemiology of urban trauma deaths: a comprehensive reassessment 10 years later.
We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the epidemiology of trauma deaths in our urban county during a one-year period a decade ago. In the interim we have implemented a statewide trauma system, initiated a number of injury-prevention programs, and have had a major public effort to reduce drug traffic and related gangs. Consequently, we have reassessed the regional trauma mortality to ascertain the impact of these measures and to search for new injury patterns. ⋯ Along with a decrease in the per capita death rate, the major mechanisms of patient's deaths changed substantively over the decade 1992-2002; there was a shift from intentional injuries to transport-related deaths as the predominant etiology of trauma related deaths. Recognition of such injury patterns will direct future injury-prevention efforts and coordination of citywide trauma care.