Surgery
-
In the trauma population, the use of retrievable inferior vena cava filters (RIVCF) is rapidly gaining acceptance in patients at high risk for venous thromboembolism. This study reports the impact of an institutional protocol on retrieval rates of RIVCF at a level I trauma center. ⋯ An institutional protocol for prospective monitoring of RIVCF significantly increases filter retrieval rate.
-
Controversy exists regarding the extent of surgical treatment for paratracheal (level VI) lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Local recurrence within lymph nodes in the central neck compartment after total thyroidectomy can be difficult to detect and more hazardous to treat surgically. An initial bilateral central lymph node dissection (CLND) can best minimize this risk of local recurrence, if CLND is established as reasonably safe and oncologically justified. ⋯ Lymph node metastases are present in both the ipsilateral and contralateral central lymph node basins in a significant percentage of patients with PTC. Routine bilateral CLND in patients with PTC has the potential to clear metastatic disease without significantly increasing the risk of RLN injury.