Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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The Roux-en-Y gastrojejunostomy is a popular method in the operative treatment of alkaline reflux gastritis and other postgastrectomy sequelae, but is associated with a high incidence of the so-called "Roux stasis syndrome." The Henley jejunal interposition has been used occasionally, albeit not widely, as an alternative to the Roux-en-Y reconstruction. ⋯ This experience suggests that the Henley jejunal interposition is our effective method of treating reflux gastritis and is not associated with the poor emptying frequently associated with the Roux-en-Y reconstruction.
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There is very little published data concerning the knot handling properties of suture materials. The few studies that are available on this subject contain discrepancies in nomenclature, testing methods, and in the type of data reported. To date, there has been no effort to present what is currently known concerning knot security in a unified format. ⋯ Existing studies have demonstrated a strong variation in the efficiency of different surgical knots. Standards for testing and nomenclature have been presented. Effort now needs to be directed in three areas: simulating in vivo conditions, testing knots under these conditions, and determining the factors that make some suture materials more efficient in knot holding than others.
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Subungual melanoma is an unpredictable and aggressive tumor with a propensity to metastasize widely. Because it is an uncommon condition, statistical analysis of its behavior patterns is difficult, factors that determine its prognosis are unclear, and optimal management is ill defined. ⋯ The treatment of subungual melanoma of the toenail apparatus is primarily surgical, by amputation at or proximal to the metatarsophalangeal joint. Even if there is no clinical evidence of metastatic disease in regional lymph nodes, radical node dissection is desirable. The condition is most appropriately managed at a specialist center.
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Review Comparative Study
Carbon dioxide absorption during laparoscopic pelvic operation.
Several factors may influence the degree of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption during laparoscopy. Hypercapnia as a result of excessive CO2 absorption may have adverse clinical effects. ⋯ The risk factors for hypercapnia can be identified. Careful consideration of the patient's ability to tolerate hypercapnia should be made when planning extraperitoneal laparoscopy, especially if the procedure is likely to be prolonged. The clinical development of subcutaneous emphysema should alert the surgeon to the possibility of subsequent hypercapnia.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
The National Veterans Administration Surgical Risk Study: risk adjustment for the comparative assessment of the quality of surgical care.
The use of surgical outcome in the comparative assessment of the quality of surgical care is predicted on the development of proper models that adjust for the severity of the preoperative risk factors of the patient. The National Veterans Administration Surgical Risk Study was designed to collect reliable, valid data about patient risk and outcome for major surgery in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and to report comparative risk-adjusted surgical morbidity and mortality rates for surgical services in VHA. This study describes the rationale and methods used in the Risk Study and reports on the frequency distribution of the data elements that will be used in the development of risk-adjusted reporting of surgical outcome. ⋯ The Veterans Health Administration has successfully implemented an outcome reporting system for major surgery that prospectively collects patient risk and outcome information reliably and validly. Risk adjustment models and comparative hospital-specific rates of risk-adjusted outcomes are currently being developed.