American journal of surgery
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Meta Analysis Comparative Study
A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that compared neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery to surgery alone for resectable esophageal cancer.
Esophagectomy is often considered the standard treatment for resectable esophageal cancer but the rate of cure is low. Combining neoadjuvant chemotherapy with surgery has theoretical appeal and some clinical evidence suggests a benefit. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery with surgery alone for esophageal cancer. ⋯ Compared with surgery alone, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery is associated with a lower rate of esophageal resection but a higher rate of complete (R0) resection. It does not increase treatment related mortality. This meta-analysis did not demonstrate a survival benefit for the combination of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery.
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Review Comparative Study
When should we operate on major fractures in patients with severe head injuries?
The widely accepted practice of early fracture fixation (EFF) in multiply injured patients has recently been challenged in the presence of head injury. ⋯ The available literature does not provide clear-cut guidance on the management of fractures in the presence of head injuries. The trend is toward a better outcome if the fractures are fixed early. Treatment should therefore be tailored to the individual patient, with the assumption that full neurologic recovery will take place.
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Comparative Study
Morbidity, mortality, and technical factors of distal pancreatectomy.
Pancreatic leak is a major source of morbidity associated with pancreatic surgery. We sought to identify disease and technique-dependent factors associated with morbidity and mortality after distal pancreatectomy. ⋯ Distal pancreatectomy can be performed with a low rate of mortality, though pancreatic leak is a common cause of morbidity. The urgency of the procedure and the method of pancreatic stump closure may influence postoperative morbidity.
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The successful excision of a renal cell carcinoma (RCC) invading the inferior vena cava (IVC) remains a technical intraoperative challenge and requires a careful preoperative surgical management planning. Although a radical operation remains the mainstay of the therapy for RCC, the optimal management of the patients with RCC causing IVC tumor thrombus remains unresolved. In this study, we reviewed our experience in this group of patients and herein report the results. ⋯ Surgical treatment is the preferred approach to patients with RCC and IVC tumor thrombi as it provides markedly better results when compared with the other therapeutical modalities. We believe that complete surgical excision of the tumor and the resulting thrombus with appropriate preoperative staging and a well-planned surgical approach, using CPB and DHCA when necessary, provide an acceptable long-term survival with a good quality of life expectation.