The American surgeon
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The American surgeon · Feb 2004
Multicenter StudyNonsentinel lymph node status after positive sentinel lymph node biopsy in early breast cancer.
Axillary dissection is the current standard of care for patients with breast cancer who are diagnosed with metastasis to axillary sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Recently, that concept has come under increasing scrutiny because not all women with a positive SLN will need further dissection. The purpose of this study was to look at nonsentinel lymph node status in patients with breast cancer and axillary SLN metastasis in an effort to determine tumor variables that can guide further treatment if there are additional axillary nodes involved. ⋯ The presence of palpable breast mass (P = 0.03), tumor size (P = 0.04), angiolymphatic invasion (P = 0.03), and extracapsular extension of SLN metastasis (P = 0.001) were the variables that predicted non-SLN involvement. Micrometastasis was inversely related to non-SLN involvement. In patients with breast cancer and SLN metastasis, the presence of a palpable breast mass, tumor size, angiolymphatic invasion, and extracapsular node extension increase the likelihood of identifying additional node metastasis on subsequent axillary dissection.
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The American surgeon · Sep 2002
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyIs bariatric surgery safe in academic centers?
Contemporary outcomes of bariatric surgery are not well defined. Our aim was to document the outcomes of bariatric surgery on the basis of surgeon caseload and affiliation. We analyzed prospectively collected Florida-wide hospital discharge data. ⋯ We conclude that outcomes of bariatric surgery in high-risk patients are similar among academic and community-based surgeons. Academic surgeons undertake bariatric surgery in high-risk patients more frequently than community-based surgeons, which underlies their increased complication rate. These prospectively collected data reflect surgical outcomes more accurately than clinical series and will impact our practice of bariatric surgery.
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The American surgeon · May 2001
Multicenter StudyIatrogenic and noniatrogenic extrahepatic biliary tract injuries: a multi-institutional review.
Traumatic and iatrogenic extrahepatic biliary tract injuries are rare but may lead to exceedingly morbid complications. Traumatic extrahepatic biliary tract injuries represent less than 1 per cent of all traumatic injuries. Iatrogenic injuries result in 0.2 to 1 per cent of laparoscopic or open cholecystectomies. ⋯ Hepaticojejunostomy has a complication rate of 15 per cent. Minor common duct lacerations are amenable to conservative therapy with oversewing and/or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with stent placement. Repair of extrahepatic biliary tract injuries with hepaticojejunostomy at a level of good blood supply remains our gold standard for treatment of more severe injuries and strictures.
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The American surgeon · Nov 2000
Multicenter StudyUtilization of FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) in 1999: results of a survey of North American trauma centers.
Although much has been written about FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) in the last decade little is known about its present clinical utilization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and characterize the contemporary utilization of FAST at trauma centers in the United States and Canada. In 1999 trauma directors or their delegates at Level I regional trauma centers in the United States and Canada were surveyed either by fax or phone regarding the present utilization and the future of FAST at their center. ⋯ FAST is performed by clinicians at 65 per cent of the trauma centers surveyed. The utilization of CT and diagnostic peritoneal lavage has changed. Many centers have broadened the scope of FAST to include the assessment of organ, pediatric, and penetrating injury.
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The American surgeon · Sep 1998
Multicenter StudyPancreatic injuries resulting from penetrating trauma: a multi-institution review.
Pancreatic injury from penetrating trauma continues to be a source of significant morbidity and mortality, with questions remaining regarding optimal treatment of injuries. Our goal was to evaluate current trends in the operative management of these injuries. Our patient population comprised all patients admitted to one of three Level I trauma centers over an 8-year period that had sustained penetrating pancreatic trauma. ⋯ Appropriate management of the pancreatic injury can reduce the long-term complications. These results support treating patients with suspected ductal injuries by appropriate resection. Drainage should probably be sufficient for most nonductal pancreatic injuries.