World journal of surgery
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World journal of surgery · Jul 2015
ReviewReducing healthcare costs facilitated by surgical auditing: a systematic review.
Surgical auditing has been developed in order to benchmark and to facilitate quality improvement. The aim of this review is to determine if auditing combined with systematic feedback of information on process and outcomes of care results in lower costs of surgical care. ⋯ This systematic review shows that surgical auditing can function as a quality instrument and therefore as a tool to reduce costs. Since evidence is scarce so far, further studies should be performed to investigate if surgical auditing has positive effects to turn the rising healthcare costs around. In the future, incorporating (actual) cost analyses and patient-related outcome measures would increase the audits' value and provide a complete overview of the value of healthcare.
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World journal of surgery · Jul 2015
Myths and Misinformation About Gunshot Wounds may Adversely Affect Proper Treatment.
Poorly designed experiments and popular media have led to multiple myths about wound ballistics. Some of these myths have been incorporated into the trauma literature as fact and are included in Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). We hypothesized that these erroneous beliefs would be prevalent, even among those providing care for patients with gunshot wounds (GSWs), but could be addressed through education. ⋯ Erroneous beliefs involving wound ballistics are prevalent even among clinicians who frequently treat victims of GSWs and could lead to inappropriate treatment. Focused education markedly improved knowledge. The ATLS course and manual promulgate some of these myths and should be revised.
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World journal of surgery · Jul 2015
Complications After Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Video Evaluation Study of Whether the Critical View of Safety was Reached.
Achieving the critical view of safety (CVS) before transection of the cystic artery and duct is important to reduce biliary duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. To gain more insight into complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, we investigated whether the criteria for CVS were met during surgery by analyzing videos of operations performed at our institution. ⋯ In our institutional series of laparoscopic cholecystectomies with postoperative complications, CVS was reached in only a few cases. Evaluating surgical videos of laparoscopic cholecystectomy cases are important and we recommend its use to improve surgical technique and decrease the number of biliary injuries.
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World journal of surgery · Jun 2015
ReviewCurrent concepts in penetrating and blast injury to the central nervous system.
To review the current management, prognostic factors and outcomes of penetrating and blast injuries to the central nervous system and highlight the differences between gunshot wound, blast injury and stabbing. ⋯ Urgent resuscitation, correction of coagulopathy and early surgery with wide cranial decompression may improve the outcome in selected patients with severe craniocerebral GSW. More limited surgery is undertaken for focal brain injury due to GSW. A non-operative approach may be taken if the clinical status is very poor (GCS 3, fixed dilated pupils) or GCS 4-5 with adverse CT findings or where there is a high likelihood of death or poor outcome. Civilian spinal GSWs are usually stable neurologically and biomechanically and do not require exploration. The indications for exploration are as follows: (1) compressive lesions with partial spinal cord or cauda equina injury, (2) mechanical instability and (3) complications. The principles of management of blast injury to the head and spine are the same as for GSW. Multidisciplinary specialist management is required for these complex injuries.