The Journal of surgical research
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Observational Study
Mortality rates of severe traumatic brain injury patients: impact of direct versus nondirect transfers.
Direct transport of patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) to trauma centers (TCs) that can provide definitive care results in lower mortality rates. This study investigated the impact of direct versus nondirect transfers on the mortality rates of patients with sTBI. ⋯ To decrease TBI-related mortality, patients with suspected sTBI should be taken directly to a Level I or II TC unless they require life-saving stabilization at NTCs.
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Comparative Study
Cervical spine injuries in young children: pattern and outcomes in accidental versus inflicted trauma.
The aim of the study was to compare the cervical spine (c-spine) pattern of injury and outcomes in children below 3 y with a head injury from confirmed inflicted versus accidental trauma. ⋯ Compared to accidental trauma, young children with inflicted c-spine injuries have more multisystem trauma, long-term disability from brain injury, and an injury pattern consistent with shaking.
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Bacterial lung infection is a leading cause of death for those 65 y or older, often requiring intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation, which consumes considerable health care resources. Although administration of antibiotics is the standard of care for bacterial pneumonia, its overuse has led to the emergence of multidrug resistant organisms. Therefore, alternative strategies to help minimize the effects of bacterial pneumonia in the elderly are necessary. As studies have shown that sphingosine (SPH) has inherent bacterial killing properties, our goal was to assess whether it could act as a prophylactic treatment to protect aged mice from pulmonary infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. ⋯ These data suggest that prophylactic treatment with SPH could reduce lung bacterial infections for the at-risk elderly population.
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This 2017 Presidential Address for the Association for Academic Surgery was delivered on February 8, 2017. It addresses the difficult topic of gender disparities in surgery. Mixing empirical data with personal anecdotes, Dr. Caprice Greenberg provides an insightful overview of this difficult challenge facing the surgical discipline and practical advice on how we can begin to address it.