Patients with traumatic esophageal perforations treated with endoscopic vacuum therapy (evt) had significantly shorter treatment duration than those treated with endoscopic self-expandable metal stent (e-sems). However, e-sems led to a shorter time of hospitalization and lower costs. Both methods had similar clinical outcomes, with high discharge rates. Journal Article by de Oliveira AT, Barreira MA […]
Category: Appendix, Gallbladder and Surgical Emergencies
Improving Trauma Care Access and Equity in South Side Chicago
The study discusses the opening of a trauma center at University of Chicago Medicine and its impact on the south side of Chicago. Since its establishment in 2018, the trauma center has become one of the busiest in the country with a high penetrating trauma rate. Patient transport time on the south side has significantly […]
Can Endoscopic Gallbladder Stenting Prevent Recurrent Cholecystitis in Deferred Cholecystectomy?
Endoscopic gallbladder stenting significantly reduced the rate of recurrent cholecystitis at 3 months compared to patients who did not receive stenting. At 3-6 months, the stenting group also showed a lower, though not statistically significant, rate of recurring cholecystitis. The majority of recurrences in the non-stenting group occurred within 3 months, indicating that endoscopic stenting […]
Operative Management of Emergency General Surgery Conditions: Higher Costs Which Persist Over Time
Operative management of emergency general surgery conditions leads to higher in-hospital costs compared to nonoperative management, with costs remaining higher or equivalent through 180 days. Out-of-pocket costs are similar for both approaches. For hepatopancreaticobiliary conditions, costs for operative management start higher but become equivalent at 90 and 180 days. These findings have implications for decision-making […]
Robotic Surgery in Emergency General Surgery Improves Outcomes
Robotic surgery is increasingly utilized in emergency general surgery cases, showing significant year-over-year increases for cholecystectomy, colectomy, inguinal hernia, and ventral hernia repair. It is associated with a lower risk of conversion to open surgery and shorter postoperative lengths of stay compared to laparoscopic surgery. This suggests that robotic surgery may offer better outcomes for […]
Rising Incidence of School Shooting Victims: A 53-Year Analysis
Firearm violence in American schools has increased significantly over 53 years, with a total of 2,056 school shooting incidents involving 3,083 victims analyzed. Most victims and shooters were male, with rifles showing a higher fatality-to-wounded ratio. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant increase in rates of school shooting victims, wounded, and fatalities among children over […]
The Importance of Social Determinants and Primary Care Appointments in Traumatic Injury Follow-Up
After reviewing trauma admissions from 2018 to 2021, researchers found an overall loss to follow-up rate of 36.9%. Non-white patients, those who underwent operations, and individuals discharged to rehabilitation facilities were more likely to attend follow-up appointments within 30 days. Patients with substance use disorder and those with public insurance had higher loss to follow-up […]
Assessment of AI-generated Medical Information on Appendicitis
Generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT-3.5, ChatGPT-4, Bard, and Claude-2 were assessed for content and quality on appendicitis information. Results showed favorable quality scores for all but Claude-2, which had significantly lower quality. Bard was the only platform providing verifiable sources, while others advised consulting a physician. Readability levels exceeded public standards, indicating potential for patient […]
Opportunities for Improving Care in Managing Acute Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction
Researchers examined outcomes of patients with acute colonic pseudo-obstruction (ACPO) and adherence to treatment guidelines. A total of 45 patients were identified, with 13 admitted under general surgery. Despite all patients receiving admission bloods, ACPO management, often overseen by general surgeons, may impact conservative treatment quality and intervention timeliness. Further optimization is necessary to improve […]
Impact of Emergency Surgery on Patient Reported Outcomes
Patients undergoing emergency general surgery felt they had no choice and were often excluded from decision-making. Females reported this more commonly. Patients with minor complications expressed less trust and communication issues, while those with major complications showed more confidence in their team. Patients not admitted to the ICU highlighted good communication. The severity of complications […]