Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Penetrating cardiac injuries are one of the leading causes of death from urban violence. ⋯ Parameters measuring physiologic condition, CVRS, and mechanism of injury plus initial rhythm are significant predictors of outcomes in penetrating cardiac injuries. The need for aortic crossclamping and the inability to restore an organized rhythm or blood pressure after thoracotomy were also predictors of outcomes. The presence of pericardial tamponade was not.
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Recent changes in the educational environment and in the content of specialty surgical education have highlighted limitations, both educational and logistic, of the current system of graduate surgical education. To address these issues, the Graduate Medical Education Committee of the American College of Surgeons conducted a study of the educational competencies desired of graduating medical students, and of surgical residents completing their first postgraduate year (PGY 1). ⋯ The evidence that many core proficiencies are held in common by all surgical specialties argues strongly for careful coordination and cooperation among the various residency programs in an institution to achieve these objectives in a common learning program.