Surgery
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Our previous investigation demonstrated that despite routine chemoprophylaxis, thrombelastography, which is a comprehensive test measuring the viscoelastic properties of blood, identified a hypercoagulable state in a cohort of critically ill surgical patients that was associated with thromboemobolic events. Furthermore, because thrombelastography allows for the comprehensive assessment of coagulation status, this work suggested that platelet hyperactivity is a component of the hypercoagulable state. We hypothesized that progressive postinjury thrombocytosis contributes to a hypercoagulable state that is associated with thrombelastography. ⋯ Persistent thrombocytosis in critically injured patients receiving routine chemoprophylaxis is associated with thrombotic complications. Subsequent investigation is warranted to differentiate enzymatic from platelet hypercoagulability to ascertain the role of antiplatelet therapy for prevention of TE.
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Dedicated skills courses may help to prepare 4th-year medical students for surgical internships. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors that influence the preparedness of 4th-year medical students planning a surgical career, and the role that our skills course plays in that preparedness. ⋯ Completion of an accelerated skills course results in comparable levels of student performance postcourse across a variety of preclinical backgrounds and clerkship experiences.
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Symptomatic hypocalcemia, the most common complication of total thyroidectomy, can lead to postoperative emergency room visits for laboratory testing and intravenous calcium infusion. A method to identify patients reliably at risk for postoperative hypocalcemia could allow prophylactic treatment to avoid this. We hypothesized that quick parathyroid hormone testing within 4 hours of thyroidectomy and a protocol to treat parathyroid-hormone-deficient patients would reduce symptomatic hypocalcemia, eliminating the need for emergency room visits. ⋯ Postoperative parathyroid hormone testing reliably identifies patients at risk for hypocalcemia after thyroid surgery. Moreover, parathyroid hormone testing and calcitriol administration to patients at risk decreases the incidence of hypocalcemia and associated emergency room visits after total thyroidectomy. Therefore, patients with postoperative serum parathyroid hormone levels <10 pg/mL after thyroid surgery should be treated with calcitriol and calcium to prevent symptomatic hypocalcemia.
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The development of anastomotic leaks and/or strictures can be associated with considerable morbidity and impairment of quality of life. In the current study, we evaluated the outcomes of patients who developed anastomotic complications after esophagectomy to elucidate the impact of these events on morbidity, mortality, and subsequent need for dilation. ⋯ Anastomotic integrity after esophagectomy has a substantial impact on perioperative course and long-term swallowing. A more formal radiographic and endoscopic leak classification system seems justified.
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The dichotomy between clinical and hospital revenue generation for trauma care is well established. Many trauma programs require hospital support for fiscal survival. We evaluated the impact of standardized clinical documentation to the hospital's bottom line at our trauma center. ⋯ An effective standardized documentation strategy for trauma care results in significant fiscal gains in hospital reimbursement.