Surgery
-
The systemic inflammatory response as mediated by the cytokine network is undoubtedly complex. While inflammatory cytokines are indispensable in wound healing and the restoration of homeostasis, it is often the excessive activity of either proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory cytokines that causes injury to the host or renders the host immunocompromised, respectively. ⋯ It is clear that immunocytes are the source of cytokine production, and these products possess important autocrine, as well as systemic activities. The ability to alter immunocyte function through extracellular hormonal influences or by manipulating intracellular signaling mechanisms are potential strategies for regulating the inflammatory cytokine response during injury.
-
Given the pressures that exist today to modify surgical training programs, this study was undertaken to ascertain the opinions of surgical intern applicants and fellowship program directors with regard to the length of surgical training. ⋯ For some general surgery subspecialties, a shortened, integrated training program may be desirable from the point of view of both trainees and fellowship directors. Vascular, cardiothoracic, and plastic surgery appear to be those subspecialties that are most amenable to such programs.
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Outpatient minimally invasive parathyroidectomy: a combination of sestamibi-SPECT localization, cervical block anesthesia, and intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay.
Despite the high cure rate and low morbidity of bilateral neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism, there is a movement toward minimizing the process in terms of incision, cost, extent of exploration, and length of hospital stay, while maintaining excellent outcomes. ⋯ Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy is a safe, cost-effective alternative to bilateral exploration and may be the procedure of choice for select patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.