Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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The most effective treatment for traumatic injuries is to prevent them from occurring. Currently, few surgeons receive any formal training in injury' control and prevention. This study was designed to test the knowledge of injury prevention principles among practicing surgeons, in order to identify areas in need of intensified educational efforts. ⋯ The majority of practicing surgeons and nurses, including those working at trauma centers, are unaware of the basic concepts of injury prevention. Advancements in the field of injury control will require efforts to educate medical professionals and the public.
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Despite the fact that repair of an inguinal hernia is one of the most common operations performed in general surgery, we have very little information on the natural history of the untreated hernia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between hernia symptoms and the duration the patients had their hernias before presentation to a surgical outpatient department for an elective or emergency operation. ⋯ Because many patients with an inguinal hernia are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, prospective clinical trials to assess the role of operations for such hernias are required.
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Achalasia is a progressive, noncurable, motor disorder of the esophagus. Myotomy of the distal esophagus is the principal method of providing palliation. A major controversy is the necessity for a complementary antireflux procedure. ⋯ There is no statistical difference in results by chi-square analysis between transthoracic Heller myotomy without fundoplication and transabdominal Heller myotomy with parietal cell vagotomy and Nissen fundoplication or posterior gastropexy.