Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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The mortality rates associated with hepatectomy are still not zero. Our aim was to define the risk factors for complications and to evaluate our perioperative management. ⋯ Shorter operative times and reduced blood loss were obtained by improving the surgical technique and using new surgical devices and intraoperative management, including anesthesia. Additionally, decision making using our algorithm and perioperative management according to CDC guidelines reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with hepatectomy.
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Excellent results of surgical reconstruction of major bile duct injuries (BDIs) have been well-documented. Reports of successful definitive management of central bile duct leakage and stenoses have been reported infrequently. The aim of this study was to assess treatment and outcomes for operative and endoscopic treatment of BDI after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) and define the role of endoscopy in management. ⋯ Endoscopic management of class A BDI has excellent outcomes. Although surgical management remains the preferred therapy, short-term endoscopic treatment for class E1 to E4 can optimize the patient and operative field for reconstruction. Prolonged stenting in select patients with E1 to E4 characterized by stenosis is successful in the majority.
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Failure to rescue (ie, mortality after a major complication) has recently been demonstrated as a mechanism underlying differences between high and low mortality hospitals. In this study, we sought to better understand the hospital characteristics that may explain failure to rescue. ⋯ Several hospital characteristics are associated with FTR from major complications. However, a large portion of what makes some hospitals better than others at rescuing patients remains unexplained. Future research should focus on hospital cultures and attitudes that may contribute to the timely recognition and effective management of major complications.
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Multicenter Study
Detection of postoperative respiratory failure: how predictive is the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Patient Safety Indicator?
Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) 11, or postoperative respiratory failure, was developed by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to detect incident cases of respiratory failure after elective operations through use of ICD-9-CM diagnosis and procedure codes. We sought to determine the positive predictive value (PPV) of this indicator. ⋯ Although PSI 11 predicts true postoperative respiratory failure with relatively high frequency, the indicator does not limit detection to preventable cases. The PPV of PSI 11 might be increased by excluding cases with a principal diagnosis suggestive of a nonelective hospitalization and those with head or neck procedures. Removing the diagnosis code criterion from the indicator might also increase PPV, but would decrease the number of true positive cases detected by 20%.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Prospective randomized trial of accelerated re-epithelization of skin graft donor sites using extracorporeal shock wave therapy.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy may enhance revascularization and repair of healing soft tissue. ⋯ For centers that apply nonadherent gauze dressings and topical antiseptics to skin graft donor sites, application of a single defocused shock wave treatment immediately after skin graft harvest can significantly accelerate donor site epithelialization.