American journal of surgery
-
Hypertension is a major health risk factor in patients who are morbidly obese. Two hundred eighty-nine morbidly obese patients undergoing gastric restrictive surgery were evaluated for the presence of hypertension (blood pressure greater than or equal to 160/90 mm Hg or currently undergoing antihypertensive therapy) pre- and postoperatively. Of 74 (26%) preoperatively hypertensive patients, 67 (91%) were available for follow-up. ⋯ For patients with resolved hypertension, follow-up weights for the morbidly obese and superobese were 162.0 +/- 10.8 lbs (133% +/- 4% ideal body weight +ADIBW+BD) and 220.4 +/- 9.5 lbs (170% +/- 7% IBW). Gastric restrictive surgery is effective therapy for hypertension in morbidly obese patients. Patients need not achieve weights approaching IBW to enjoy the benefits of gastric restrictive surgery on hypertension.
-
Twenty-seven blunt trauma patients with open pelvic fracture who were seen in a trauma center over a 10-year period were characterized for treatment and resource consumption. Age, injury severity score, mortality, mechanism of injury, associated injuries, blood requirement, length of stay (LOS), surgical procedures, and complications were analyzed. ⋯ Aggressive hemorrhage and sepsis control, including 2 hemipelvectomies, resulted in an overall survival rate of 85%, with no mortality occurring in the last 20 patients. The reduced mortality obtained in the treatment of this highly resource consumptive injury suggests that open pelvic fracture should be managed at a trauma center, where these resources are immediately available.