The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Oct 1998
Outcomes from nonemergent orthotopic liver transplantation: is postoperative care becoming routine?
The outcome of surgical intensive care unit (SICU) care after nonemergent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTX) was evaluated in 168 consecutive patients over a 6-year period (1/90-12/95). Prospective data collected included age, first and last SICU day Simplified Acute Physiology Score and Quantitative Therapeutic Intervention System Score, SICU length of stay (LOS), and mortality. The patient population was 61 per cent male and 39 per cent female, with ages ranging from 20 to 75 years. ⋯ Over the study period, there was no difference in severity of illness or intensity of intervention upon discharge to floor care. The decreased SICU LOS did not adversely affect patient mortality or severity of illness upon SICU discharge during the 6-year period. With intensified SICU intervention, nonemergent orthotopic liver transplantation patients can have a shorter SICU LOS without adverse effects on outcome.
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Diagnostic laparoscopy performed before laparoscopic repair of groin hernias offers an opportunity to examine all hernial orifices. This study was undertaken to evaluate the accuracy of the preoperative clinical diagnoses and to determine the frequency of unexpected groin hernias. Between December 1990 and November 1997, 253 patients (243 male) underwent laparoscopic repair of 560 hernias. ⋯ Incorrect diagnoses in 91 of 180 patients (50%) thought to have bilateral hernias included a different and/or additional type of ipsilateral inguinal hernia on either side in 63 patients (35%), a femoral hernia in 21 patients (12%), or a unilateral hernia in 7 patients (4%). Unexpected hernias that would not have been treated with an anterior approach were found in 64 patients (25%; 27 were femoral and 37 were contralateral). The laparoscopic technique allows for identification and repair of previously undiagnosed contralateral and femoral hernias at the first operation.
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The American surgeon · Oct 1998
Comparative StudyAn early comparison between endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration and mediastinoscopy for diagnosis of mediastinal malignancy.
Precise mediastinal lymph node staging is essential in non-small cell lung cancer for proper evaluation and treatment. In addition to CT, mediastinoscopy is routinely used for staging and diagnosis of mediastinal malignancy. Recently, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) combined with fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy has been used to evaluate mediastinal disease. ⋯ Mediastinoscopy and EUS/FNA are highly accurate methods of staging mediastinal malignancy. Mediastinoscopy provides better access to the upper and anterior mediastinum, whereas EUS/FNA can safely be used to biopsy subcarinal and posterior mediastinal masses. Mediastinoscopy and EUS/FNA target different areas of the mediastinum and may be complimentary in the evaluation of mediastinal malignancy and staging of bronchogenic carcinoma.
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Molten metal burns have received relatively little attention in the surgical literature. We performed a retrospective chart review of 150 patients who sustained molten metal burns between 1972 and 1997. The injuries all occurred in male foundry workers, most commonly from molten aluminum (60%). ⋯ The mean length of hospital stay was 11.2 days, and mean absence from work was 72.6 days. Fifty-one patients treated by the burn surgeon within 2 weeks of injury had a mean length of disability significantly shorter than those referred late (53.5 vs. 83.4 days; P < 0.05). We believe that an underestimation of the severity of these burns often leads to a delay in correct therapy and extends disability.
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The American surgeon · Oct 1998
White blood cell count is a poor predictor of severity of disease in the diagnosis of appendicitis.
The white blood cell (WBC) count is considered to be a useful test in the diagnosis of appendicitis. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical features of patients with normal WBC appendicitis and also to determine whether a higher WBC count correlates with a more advanced stage of appendicitis. Patients with pathologically confirmed appendicitis from January 1989 to December 1994 were included in the study (n = 1919). ⋯ The severity of disease of patients with a normal WBC count were: 1 = 58 per cent; 2 = 13 per cent; 3 = 7 per cent; and 4 = 22 per cent. For patients with an elevated WBC count the scores were: 1 = 57 per cent; 2 = 17 per cent; 3 = 13 per cent; and 4 = 14 per cent. The proportion of gangrenous and perforated appendicitis in the patients with a normal WBC count is the same as in the patients with an elevated WBC count.