American journal of surgery
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Comparative Study
Tale of two sites: capillary versus arterial blood glucose testing in the operating room.
Pre- and intraoperative glycemic control has been identified as a putative target to improve outcomes of surgical patients. Glycemic control requires frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels with appropriate adjustments. However, monitoring standards have been called into question, especially in cases in which capillary samples are used. Point-of-care testing (POCT) using capillary samples and glucometers has been noted to give relatively accurate results for critically ill patients. However, the package inserts of most glucometers warn that they should not be used for patients in shock. This has led clinicians to doubt their accuracy in the operating room. The accuracy of capillary samples when tested in patients undergoing surgical procedures has not been proven. This study aims to determine the accuracy of intraoperative blood glucose values using capillary samples relative to arterial samples. ⋯ Capillary samples collected intraoperatively are strongly correlated with arterial samples. Glucose monitoring in the operating room can be safely performed by collecting capillary samples for POCT. However, clinicians should still be cautious when interpreting glucose levels that are high, either by repeating the blood glucose test or by having samples sent to the laboratory.
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Comparative Study
Tomographic findings are not always predictive of failed nonoperative management in blunt hepatic injury.
Nonoperative management (NOM) has become the standard treatment of blunt hepatic injury (BHI) for stable patients. Contrast extravasation (CE) on computed tomography (CT) scan had been reported as a sign that is associated with NOM failure. The goal of this study was to further investigate the risk factors of NOM failure in patients with CE on CT scan. ⋯ Higher injury severity score, more blood transfusion, and higher grade of liver injury are factors that correlate with NOM failure in patients with BHI. Contrast leakage into the peritoneum is not always a definite sign of NOM failure in BHI. Early and aggressive angioembolization is an effective adjunct of NOM in BHI patients, even with contrast leakage into peritoneum.
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Management of presacral hemorrhage is always challenging. Herein we describe the use of an absorbable hemostatic gauze with α-cyanoacrylate medical adhesive to achieve hemostasis. ⋯ The use of an absorbable hemostatic gauze with medical adhesive is a simple and effective method for achieving hemostasis when massive presacral hemorrhage occurs. However, its effectiveness needs to be confirmed in a controlled study in a properly selected patient population.
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The value of open inguinal herniorraphy without mesh is being lost. Mesh herniorraphy is being inappropriately used as the standard of care. The complication of inguinodynia is occurring at inappropriately high rates. Ilioinguinal neurectomy is not a simple solution.
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Controversy exists regarding whether resident involvement during surgery impacts patient outcomes. We compared surgical times and perioperative complications of patients undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy with and without residents. ⋯ Regardless of the postgraduate year level, resident involvement resulted in a clinically appreciable increase in surgical times and a statistically significant increase in certain complications.