The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Jan 2012
Improving the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography in suspected acute appendicitis by the combined transabdominal and transvaginal approach.
Transabdominal ultrasound has a lower diagnostic yield in acute appendicitis than computed tomography (CT) scanning. The addition of transvaginal sonography in women with suspected appendicitis has shown improvement in the efficacy of diagnosis, potentially providing the option of selective CT use and reducing overall investigative cost and surgical delay. Two hundred ninety-two women who underwent combined transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound for suspected acute appendicitis were evaluated. ⋯ Of the 135 women with negative ultrasound examinations, 14 underwent surgery in which four cases of appendicitis were found. The sensitivity of the combined approach was 97.3 per cent, the specificity 91 per cent, the positive predictive value 91.7 per cent, and the negative predictive value 97 per cent. Combined ultrasound has a high predictive value for the diagnosis of appendicitis and may assist in reduction of the use of CT scanning for diagnosis and in the negative appendectomy rate.
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The American surgeon · Jan 2012
Quality of life after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia in the pediatric population: a pilot study.
This pilot study examined symptom relief and quality of life in pediatric patients who received laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery at our institution for biliary dyskinesia. We used two validated questionnaires: the Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ-PF28), to assess general well-being, and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI), to measure gastrointestinal-related health. After Institutional Review Board approval, all patients under the age of 18 years who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia between November 2006 and May 2010 received mailed questionnaires. ⋯ Children experiencing long-term symptom cessation after laparoscopic cholecystectomy reported higher quality of life than those who had incomplete or only short-term relief. However, regardless of the degree of symptom relief, the degree of quality of life experienced by our study sample of patients with biliary dyskinesia is lower than that of a comparable U. S. pediatric sample.
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The American surgeon · Jan 2012
Recombinant factor VIIa to correct coagulopathy in patients with traumatic brain injury presenting to outlying facilities before transfer to the regional trauma center.
Timely correction of coagulopathy in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) improves mortality. Recombinant, activated factor VII (VIIa) has been identified as an effective method to correct coagulopathy in patients with TBI. We performed a retrospective study (January 1, 2008-December 31, 2009) of all patients with TBI and coagulopathy (international normalized ratio (INR) > 1.5) transferred to our Level I trauma center. ⋯ Upon arrival to our trauma center the VIIa group had a lower INR (1.0 vs 3.0, P = 0.02) and lower mortality (0% vs 39%, P = 0.03). In coagulopathic patients with TBI presenting to outlying institutions with limited resources to quickly provide plasma, VIIa efficiently corrects coagulopathy before transfer to definitive care at the regional trauma center. More rapid correction of coagulopathy with VIIa in this patient population may improve mortality.
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The American surgeon · Jan 2012
The impact of American College of Surgeons trauma center designation and outcomes after early thoracotomy: a National Trauma Databank analysis.
Trauma centers are designated by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) into four different levels based on resources, volume, and scientific and educational commitment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between ACS center designation and outcomes after early thoracotomy for trauma. The National Trauma Databank (v. 7.0) was used to identify all patients who required early thoracotomy. ⋯ Nonteaching institutions however, were independently associated with poorer outcomes after early thoracotomy. These findings may have important implications in educational commitment of institutions. Further prospective evaluation of these findings is warranted.