The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Jan 2015
Total body surface area overestimation at referring institutions in children transferred to a burn center.
Total body surface area (TBSA) burned is a powerful descriptor of burn severity and influences the volume of resuscitation required in burn patients. The incidence and severity of TBSA overestimation by referring institutions (RIs) in children transferred to a burn center (BC) are unclear. The association between TBSA overestimation and overresuscitation is unknown as is that between TBSA overestimation and outcome. ⋯ No patient demographic or clinical factors were associated with TBSA overestimation. Education efforts aimed at emergency department physicians regarding the importance of always calculating TBSA as well as the mechanics of TBSA estimation and calculating resuscitation volume are needed. Further studies should evaluate the association of TBSA overestimation by RIs with adverse outcomes and complications in the burned child.
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The American surgeon · Jan 2015
Biography Historical ArticleErnest Amory Codman and the End-result System.
Ernest Amory Codman had an early penchant fondness for recording surgical complications and analyzing these recordings to determine a surgeon's ability along with a hospital's efficiency. This idea and the actions that followed suit in his career were not well received by his fellow colleagues. However, Codman's influence and spirit remained and helped shape important institutions in American medicine such as the The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.
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The American surgeon · Jan 2015
Biography Historical ArticleDr. Mary Edwards Walker: years ahead of her time.
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The American surgeon · Jan 2015
Anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer with mesorectal excision: incidence, risk factors, and management.
We investigated risk factors and prognostic implications of symptomatic anastomotic leakage after anterior resection for rectal cancer, and the influence of a diverting stoma. Our retrospective review of prospective collected data analyzed 475 patients who underwent anterior resection for rectal cancer. Uni- and multivariate analysis was made between anastomotic leakage and patient, tumor, and treatment variables, either for the overall group (n = 475) and in the midlow rectal cancer subgroup (n = 291). ⋯ In patients with a leakage, a temporary enterostomy considerably reduced the need for reoperation (12.5 vs 77.8%; P < 0.0001) and the risk of a permanent stoma (18.7 vs 28.5%; P = 0.49). The incidence of anastomotic failure increases for lower tumors, whereas it is not influenced by radiotherapy. Defunctioning enterostomy does not influence the leak rate, but it mitigates clinical consequences.