American journal of surgery
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Comparative Study
Open reduction and internal fixation of rib fractures in polytrauma patients with flail chest.
Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of fractured ribs for flail chest is safe and effective but who is most likely to benefit is unknown. Our purpose is to compare ORIF with nonoperative management (NOM) in polytrauma patients. ⋯ In this retrospective study, patients treated by ORIF had longer hospitalization and ventilator duration. Future studies should be designed to optimally identify patients who are most likely to benefit from ORIF.
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Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) result in epidermal sloughing and mucositis. There are no published guidelines for intubation and early tracheostomy in this patient population. ⋯ Indications for intubation and early tracheostomy for SJS and TEN are documented oral involvement plus one of the following: initial TBSA 70% or more; progression of TBSA involved from hospital day 1 to hospital day 3, 15% TBSA or more; underlying neurologic diagnosis preventing airway protection; and documented airway involvement on direct laryngoscopy.
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Medicaid beneficiaries do not have equal access to high-volume centers for complex surgical procedures. We hypothesize there is a large Medicaid Gap between those receiving emergency general vs complex surgery at the same hospital. ⋯ Gaps exist between the percentages of Medicaid patients receiving emergency general surgery vs more complex surgical care at the same hospital and may be exaggerated in hospitals with very high volume of complex elective surgeries.