Articles: cations.
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Total pancreatectomy (TP) is performed for various indications. Historically, morbidity and mortality have been high. Recent series reporting improved peri-operative mortality have renewed interest in TP. We performed a national review of TP including indication, patient/hospital characteristics, complications and peri-operative mortality. ⋯ TP is increasingly performed nationwide with a concomitant decrease in peri-operative mortality. Patient characteristics, rather than hospital volume, predicted increased mortality.
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Wrong-site, wrong-procedure and wrong-patient surgeries are catastrophic events for patients, medical caregivers and institutions. Operating room (OR) briefings are intended to reduce the risk of wrong-site surgeries and promote collaboration among OR personnel. The purpose of our study was to evaluate 2 OR briefing safety initiatives, "07:35 huddles" (preoperative OR briefing) and "surgical time-outs" (perioperative OR briefing), at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ont. ⋯ Structured communication tools, such as 07:35 huddles and surgical time-outs briefings, especially for the nursing personnel, change the notion of individual advocacy to one of teamwork and being proactive about patient safety.