Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of beta-blockers on patients sustaining acute traumatic brain injury. Our hypothesis was that beta-blocker exposure is associated with improved survival. ⋯ Beta-blockade in patients with traumatic brain injury was independently associated with improved survival. Older patients with severe head injuries demonstrated the largest reduction in mortality with beta-blockade.
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Comparative Study
Outpatient cholecystectomy at hospitals versus freestanding ambulatory surgical centers.
Because of safety concerns, some payers do not reimburse for laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed in freestanding ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). This policy has been controversial because of increasing competition between ASCs and hospitals for low risk surgical patients. ⋯ In a population of slightly younger, healthier patients, laparoscopic cholecystectomy in freestanding ASCs appears to be performed safely and with substantially lower charges than in hospitals.
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Trauma is the leading cause of death among North Americans between the ages of 1 and 44 years. Resuscitation with hypertonic saline (7.5%) solutions can reduce mortality in hypotensive and brain-injured patients. ⋯ We have successfully designed and implemented two prehospital intervention trials. The proc-ess has helped define the numerous challenges that must be overcome to pursue exception from informed consent resuscitation research in the prehospital setting. The results of these studies will hopefully advance and improve the early care of the severely injured patient.
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Multiple regional trauma systems have been implemented over the past 3 decades to achieve the goal of regionalized care for injured patients. The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS-COT) advocates that seriously injured patients should be treated in designated Level I trauma centers that meet criteria including admitting more than 1,200 injured patients annually. Reliable measures are needed to evaluate the implementation of regionalized care nationally. The goal of this study was to measure the proportion of seriously injured patients treated at high injury-volume hospitals. ⋯ The proportion of seriously injured patients in high-volume hospitals is a functional metric that provides a practicable and comprehensive measure of regionalized trauma care in the US. Injured elder Americans have less access to experienced trauma hospitals.
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To determine prospectively if simulator-based laparoscopic training could improve laparoscopic skills of gynecology residents. ⋯ A dedicated simulator-based laparoscopic training curriculum has the ability to improve basic laparoscopic skills in a gynecologic residency, as measured by timed and scored simulator tasks. Construct validity was demonstrated by measuring substantial improvement in performance with increasing residency training, and with practice.