The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Jul 2010
Case ReportsBilateral gluteal compartment syndrome: a rare but potentially morbid entity.
Compartment syndrome is caused by elevated interstitial pressure within the myofascial compartment. It rarely presents bilaterally in the gluteal region. A 49-year-old man fell 10 feet from a roof on his buttocks. ⋯ Bilateral gluteal compartment syndrome is very rare with few cases reported in the literature. It has been associated with trauma, prolonged recumbence, surgical instrumentation, and illicit drug abuse. Early recognition is required to avoid the potential severe metabolic and physical deficits.
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The American surgeon · Jul 2010
Review of re-excision for narrow or positive margins of invasive and intraductal carcinoma.
The trend in breast surgery has shifted towards breast conservation. Re-excision rates for narrow or positive margins have been variable in published reports. A retrospective analysis of 3246 patients who underwent either a lumpectomy for a palpable mass or a needle localization biopsy between January 2003 and December 2007 was done. ⋯ Residual DCIS was seen in 65 per cent with involved margins, 50 per cent with <2 mm margins, and 35 per cent of cases with 2 to 5 mm margins (P < 0.001, chi2 association). Lesser re-excision was noted in well-differentiated invasive carcinomas. Only 12 per cent of patients with margins greater than 1 mm had residual tumor on re excision, which raises the possibility of nonoperative management in such cases.
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Pulmonary contusion in the adult population is an independent risk factor for respiratory failure, ventilator associated pneumonia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Pilot studies in adults note an increased risk when volume of pulmonary contusion exceeds 20 per cent of total lung volume. The purpose of this study was to determine if children with pulmonary contusion suffer the same morbidity as adults. ⋯ No patients required intubation. Pediatric pulmonary contusion does not carry the same morbidity as noted in the adult population. Invasive airway management is rarely required.