Annals of surgery
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Comparative Study
Hormonally active women tolerate shock-trauma better than do men: a prospective study of over 4000 trauma patients.
To test the hypothesis that comparably injured women, especially those in the hormonally active age groups, would manifest a better preserved hemodynamic response and tissue perfusion after major trauma than do men. ⋯ The data firmly establishes a proof of principle that hormonally active human women have a better physiologic response to similar degrees of shock and trauma than do their male counterparts. These gender-based differences should be taken into account in designing studies evaluating the response to shock-trauma.
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We sought to identify factors contributing to wrong-site surgery (wrong patient, procedure, side, or part). ⋯ Wrong-site surgery continues to occur regularly, especially wrong-side surgery, even with formal site verification. Many errors occur before the time-out; some persist despite the verification protocol. Patients and nurses are the surgeons' best allies. Verification, starting with verification of the consent, needs to occur at multiple points before the incision.
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The extent of surgery for papillary thyroid cancers (PTC) remains controversial. Consensus guidelines have recommended total thyroidectomy for PTC > or =1 cm; however, no study has supported this recommendation based on a survival advantage. The objective of this study was to examine whether the extent of surgery affects outcomes for PTC and to determine whether a size threshold could be identified above which total thyroidectomy is associated with improved outcomes. ⋯ The results of this study demonstrate that total thyroidectomy results in lower recurrence rates and improved survival for PTC > or =1.0 cm compared with lobectomy. This is the first study to demonstrate that total thyroidectomy for PTC > or =1.0 cm improves outcomes.
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"Rediscovered" in 1976, transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) has been applicable in most situations requiring esophageal resection and reconstruction. The objective of this study was to review the authors' 30-year experience with THE and changing trends in its use. ⋯ THE refinements have reduced the historic morbidity and mortality of esophageal resection. This largest reported THE experience reinforces the value of consistent technique and a clinical pathway in managing these high acuity esophageal patients.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
The effect of oxandrolone on the endocrinologic, inflammatory, and hypermetabolic responses during the acute phase postburn.
Postburn long-term oxandrolone treatment improves hypermetabolism and body composition. The effects of oxandrolone on clinical outcome, body composition, endocrine system, and inflammation during the acute phase postburn in a large prospective randomized single-center trial have not been studied. ⋯ In this large prospective, double-blinded, randomized single-center study, oxandrolone shortened length of acute hospital stay, maintained LBM, improved body composition and hepatic protein synthesis while having no adverse effects on the endocrine axis postburn, but was associated with an increase in AST and ALT.