The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Aug 2006
Comparative StudyMinimally invasive esophagectomy: early experience and outcomes.
Minimally invasive esophageal surgery has the potential to improve mortality, hospital stay, and functional outcomes when compared with open methods. Although technically complex, combined laparoscopic and thoracoscopic esophageal resection is feasible. A case series of 20 patients who underwent minimally invasive total esophagectomy is presented. ⋯ The application of minimally invasive techniques in the arena of esophageal surgery continues to evolve. This approach has the potential to improve mortality, hospital stay, and other outcomes when compared with open methods. Although technically complex, laparoscopic total esophagectomy is feasible.
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The American surgeon · Aug 2006
Comparative StudyDoes obesity predict functional outcome in the dysvascular amputee?
Limited information is available concerning the effects of obesity on the functional outcomes of patients requiring major lower limb amputation because of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The purpose of this study was to examine the predictive ability of body mass index (BMI) to determine functional outcome in the dysvascular amputee. To do this, 434 consecutive patients (mean age, 65.8 +/- 13.3, 59% male, 71.4% diabetic) undergoing major limb amputation (225 below-knee amputation, 27 through-knee amputation, 132 above-knee amputation, and 50 bilateral) as a complication of PAD from January 1998 through May 2004 were analyzed according to preoperative BMI. ⋯ There was no statistically significant difference in outcomes for overweight patients (59.2%, 50.7%, 52.5%, and 75%) or obese patients (51.8%, 46.2%, 49.7%, and 75%) when compared with normal patients. Although there were significantly poorer outcomes for underweight patients for the parameters of prosthetic usage when compared with the remaining cohort (25%, P = 0.001) and maintenance of ambulation when compared with overweight patients (20.8%, P = 0.026), multivariate analysis adjusting for medical comorbidities and level of amputation showed that BMI was not a significant independent predictor of failure for any outcome parameter measured. In conclusion, BMI failed to correlate with functional outcome and, specifically, obesity did not predict a poorer prognosis.
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This study evaluates whether an initial blood glucose level is similarly predictive of injury severity and outcome as admission lactate in trauma patients. Between February 2004 and June 2005, we prospectively compared patients with presenting blood sugars of < or =150 mg/dL (LBS) with those with blood sugars >150 mg/dL (HBS). Fifty patients had BS above 150 mg/dL, whereas 176 patients were < or = 150 mg/dL. ⋯ Blood sugar trended with the lactate (r = 0.25, P = 0.0001). Hyperglycemic patients were more severely injured with higher mortality. BS correlated with lactate, and because it is easily obtainable, it may serve as a readily available predictor of injury severity and prognosis.
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Hilar cholangiocarcinoma remains a difficult challenge for the surgeon. Achieving negative surgical margins when resecting this relatively uncommon tumor is technically demanding as a result of the close proximity of the bile duct bifurcation to the vascular inflow of the liver. A recent advance in surgical treatment is the addition of portal vein resection to the procedure. ⋯ There was no difference in margin status or long-term survival between those patients who underwent portal vein resection and those who did not. Only negative margin status was associated with improved survival by multivariate analysis. Portal vein resection for hilar cholangiocarcinoma is safe and allows a chance for long-term survival in otherwise unresectable patients.
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The American surgeon · Jul 2006
Laparoscopic repair of gastrointestinal leaks after laparoscopic gastric bypass.
Gastrointestinal (GI) leak after gastric bypass is a cause of significant morbidity and a mortality that may exceed 50%. This study was performed to review our experience with laparoscopic repair of GI leaks after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB). A retrospective chart review of all patients who underwent LRYGB over a 25-month period was performed. ⋯ GI leak rates decrease with experience. Laparoscopic repair of GI leaks should be used judiciously. Conversions and further reoperations may be necessary.