The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Nov 2001
Influence of preoperative computed tomography on patients undergoing appendectomy.
The frequency of computed tomography (CT) ordered by emergency department physicians at our facility was noted to sharply increase in early 1998 after a New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) article recommending routine CT in patients with suspected appendicitis. Numerous studies have proven the accuracy of CT for detecting acute appendicitis; however, the most appropriate use of CT continues to evolve. We sought to evaluate the effect of increased CT use on negative appendectomy rate and perforation rate at our institution and to better delineate in whom CT is most beneficial. ⋯ The dramatic increase in CT use at our institution has not resulted in dramatic decreases in negative appendectomy rate or statistically significant changes in perforation rate. The optimal use of CT in evaluating patients with suspected appendicitis has yet to be determined. Surgical consultation should be obtained early to avoid indiscriminate tests.
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The American surgeon · Nov 2001
Case ReportsClinical and objective data on spinal cord stimulation for the treatment of severe Raynaud's phenomenon.
Ischemic vascular disease of the upper extremity represents a difficult therapeutic problem wherein medical treatment often fails. Epidural spinal cord stimulation has been shown to be an effective alternative in severe peripheral arterial disease. Although this method has been used for nearly two decades only limited experience exists in Raynaud's phenomenon of the upper limbs. ⋯ At follow-up 18 months after surgery the patient had no complaints and all ulcerations of her fingertips had healed. Spinal cord stimulation appears to be an effective treatment in severe cases of Raynaud's phenomenon and we recommend its use in the case of failed medical therapy. Pain rating and capillary microscopy enable one to assess and visualize the effects of spinal cord stimulation.
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The American surgeon · Nov 2001
Traumatic head injury in the anticoagulated elderly patient: a lethal combination.
Warfarin is the most common oral anticoagulant used for chronic anticoagulation therapy. Even without any antecedent trauma overanticoagulation can result in intracranial hemorrhage. The triad of anticoagulation with warfarin, age greater than 65 years, and traumatic head injury frequently produces a lethal brain hemorrhage. ⋯ A mortality rate of 50 per cent far exceeds the mortality rate in patients with similar head injuries who are not anticoagulated. In addition the risk/benefit equation of anticoagulation for the elderly is more complex and differs from that for younger patients. Perhaps more frequent and judicious monitoring of prothrombin time levels with lower therapeutic ranges (INR 1.5-2) is necessary.
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The American surgeon · Nov 2001
Operative acute small bowel obstruction: admitting service impacts outcome.
Early surgical intervention in acute small bowel obstruction (SBO) has long been recognized as an important factor in preventing morbidity and mortality. Factors associated with surgically managed acute SBO were analyzed for delay in intervention and impact on outcome. A retrospective review of all patients evaluated for SBO on the surgical teaching service of the Greenville Hospital System from July 1, 1997 to June 30, 2000 was performed. ⋯ In addition we have found that one of the primary causes of delay in treatment for SBO was admission to the medical service. This delay led to significantly higher mortality in these patients. We recommend early surgical evaluation for any patient admitted with SBO as a differential diagnosis.
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The American surgeon · Nov 2001
Videoscopic heller myotomy as first-line therapy for severe achalasia.
To many nonsurgeons myotomy is considered an excessively invasive treatment for achalasia and has become a salvage procedure when esophageal dilation and botulinum toxin (botox) injections fail. We sought to examine our experience with videoscopic Heller myotomy to determine whether preoperative therapy predicts perioperative complications and long-term outcome. Videoscopic Heller myotomy was undertaken in 111 patients with achalasia between June 1992 and May 2000. ⋯ We conclude that videoscopic Heller myotomy is safe and efficacious particularly in patients who have not undergone previous endoscopic interventions. The difference in patients' outcomes based on preoperative therapy may be related to a less difficult operation in patients who forgo endoscopic therapy and elect to undergo early myotomy. Although videoscopic Heller myotomy provides good outcomes as a salvage procedure after failed dilations and/or botox injections for achalasia we advocate it as first-line therapy in reasonable operative candidates.