The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · May 2004
Comparative StudyCongenital diaphragmatic hernia repair on extracorporeal life support: a decade of lessons learned.
Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a vexing anomaly that manifests with variable pulmonary compromise in neonates. More than one-third of neonates with CDH require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for refractory pulmonary hypertension (PHN). To assess the outcome of neonates having CDH repair on ECMO, we reviewed our experience for babies treated between 1992 and 2003. ⋯ Comparisons between survivors and nonsurvivors showed a significantly increased mortality for infants placed on VA bypass (P < 0.01). However, no other variable was predictive of survival. We conclude that CDH repair on ECMO is technically feasible, shows similar survival to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry, and is associated with few bleeding complications.
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About 20 per cent of patients with carcinoma of the colon or rectum present with metastatic disease. Surgeons are frequently asked to consider resection or other operative procedures in these patients for palliation. We performed this review to determine whether patients presenting with known metastatic colorectal cancer derive benefit from surgical intervention. ⋯ Although metastatic colorectal carcinoma cannot usually be cured by surgical intervention, many patients who present with metastatic disease will benefit from palliative operations with relatively short hospitalizations and reasonable survival. Those who are not candidates for resection of the primary tumor have shorter survival times. Surgery can alleviate many of the distressing symptoms in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma.
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The American surgeon · May 2004
ReviewSkin-sparing and nipple-sparing mastectomy: preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative considerations.
The last several decades have witnessed significant advances in the surgical management of breast cancer. Although many have embraced breast conservation as the procedure of choice, some patients will still opt for mastectomy for a variety of reasons. ⋯ However, this surgical approach must be considered within a multidisciplinary context, and there are a number of perioperative issues that need to be considered. In addition, newer techniques, which spare the nipple and/or areola, warrant further examination.