Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Assessing overall tumor burden on the basis of tumor number and size may assist in prognostic stratification of patients after resection of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). We sought to define the prognostic accuracy of tumor burden by using machine learning (ML) algorithms compared with other commonly used prognostic scoring systems. ⋯ Using a large international cohort, ML was able to stratify patients into 3 distinct prognostic categories based on overall tumor burden. ML-TB was noted to be superior to other CRLM prognostic scoring systems.
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Minimally invasive repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) involves placement of a transthoracic, retrosternal support bar under thoracoscopic guidance. Despite its minimally invasive technical approach, postoperative pain is a significant morbidity that often results in increased length of stay. Multi-modal pain control strategies have been used in the past with limited success. Recently, the use of intraoperative intercostal nerve cryoablation (CA) has been added. In the present study, we aim to evaluate the effects of CA on postoperative pain control, opioid requirements, and perioperative outcomes. ⋯ The use of cryoablation during MIRPE significantly decreases LOS, perioperative opioid requirements, and postoperative complications, with a minimal increase in operative time. Cryoablation is an effective pain control modality in the surgical management of chest wall deformities in children.
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Gun violence, particularly in the form of mass shooting events (MSE), is a growing, significant public health crisis in the US. Whether stricter gun laws decrease MSE is not known. We hypothesized that stronger state gun laws would be associated with lower MSE incidence. ⋯ Strength of state gun law grades does not affect MSE incidence, even after correction for population size. This suggests that legislation by itself is not an effective prevention measure and other broader and meaningful primary gun violence interventions are needed.
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Adjuvant therapy for most sentinel-node-positive (stage IIIA) melanoma may have limited clinical benefit for older patients given the competing risk of non-cancer death. The objective of this study is to model the clinical effect and cost of adjuvant therapy in stage IIIA melanoma across age groups. ⋯ Universal adjuvant therapy for stage IIIA melanoma is costly and provides limited clinical benefit in patients older than 75 years.
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The development of major low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) after low anterior resection is severely detrimental to quality of life, yet awareness of it by clinicians and patients and the frequency of treatment of LARS is unclear. ⋯ Major LARS is common yet seemingly underrecognized by clinicians because less than half of patients are on first-line therapy and practically none are on second- and third-line therapies. Long-term follow-up of patients after low anterior resection, improved preoperative and postoperative education, and continued symptom assessment is necessary to improve treatment of major LARS.