Advances in surgery
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Robotic pancreatic resections have been established as safe alternatives to the open and laparoscopic approaches. The platform has proven to be versatile, and discriminable, allowing an increasing number of surgeons to perform complex pancreatic resections in minimally invasive fashion. To date, the realized advantages of the robotic technique are decreased blood loss, and fewer conversions to laparotomy. Although these are 2 very important metrics, larger experiences comparing robotics to open and/or laparoscopic surgery are ultimately needed if the true potential of robotic pancreatic resections are to be realized.
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The rising use of antiplatelet therapy for primary prevention and secondary prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events poses a dilemma for physicians in the perioperative period. The proven benefits of aspirin in preventing further thrombotic events in patients with prior ACS or stroke make it difficult to withdraw this therapy. The risk of hypercoagulability associated with surgery is also independent of antiplatelet withdrawal, but adds to the rebound effect of platelet responsiveness. ⋯ It is recognized that maintaining antiplatelet therapy is also not without risk, as bleeding complications have been well documented. Unfortunately, current perioperative guidelines do not often provide a simple solution for management. Therefore, the risk of bleeding has to be weighed against the risk of thrombosis, and decisions should be made with all providers caring for the patient on an individual basis.