Statistical Power of Randomized Controlled Trials in Trauma Surgery.

Background: Our purpose was to conduct a bibliometric study investigating the prevalence of underpowered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in trauma surgery.

Study Design: A medical librarian conducted a search of RCTs in trauma published from 2000 to 2021. Data extracted included study type, sample size calculation, and power analyses.

Improving SCD compliance in trauma patients at Kings County Hospital Center: a quality improvement report.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the fourth most commonly reported complication in trauma patients. For these patients, thromboprophylaxis is a standard of care. Patient compliance with sequential compression devices (SCDs), a form of mechanical VTE prophylaxis, has been a focus of efforts to improve patient safety.

Pulmonary barotrauma in mechanically ventilated coronavirus disease 2019 patients: A case series.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may result in hypoxic respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilation. Barotrauma is a well-documented complication of mechanical ventilation.

Objective: To describe the presentation, characteristics, and management of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 who developed barotrauma.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Solid Organ Transplant: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to significant reductions in transplantation, motivated in part by concerns of disproportionately more severe disease among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. However, clinical features, outcomes, and predictors of mortality in SOT recipients are not well described.

Methods: We performed a multicenter cohort study of SOT recipients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19.

Unplanned readmission after outpatient laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Readmission after surgery has been considered as a measure of quality of hospital and surgical care. This study aims to investigate unplanned readmission after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Methods: The NSQIP database was used to investigate 30 days unplanned readmission after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Saving the split: the benefits of VATS thymectomy.

Background: With the advent of minimally invasive techniques, the standard approaches to many surgeries have changed. We compared the financial costs and health care outcomes between standard thymectomy via sternotomy and video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).

Methods: A 3-year review [2010-2012] of the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) was performed.

To use or not to use? Amiodarone before heart transplantation.

Background: Amiodarone frequently is used in patients with heart failure. Concerns still exist about possible complications related to its lingering effect during and after heart transplantation.

Methods: We selected all consecutive patients who received a heart transplant at our institution between January 2004 and December 2015 (n = 220) and compared the peri- and postoperative outcomes of patients who were taking amiodarone for at least 120 days before heart transplant (n = 127) with patients who did not take amiodarone prior to heart transplant (n = 93).

Efficacy of Aortic Valve Resuspension in Establishing Valve Competence in Acute Type A Dissections.

Background: This study investigates the efficacy of aortic valve (AV) resuspension with preservation of the native aortic root in maintaining AV competence during type A dissection repair.

Methods: A total of 154 acute type A dissection repairs were performed from January 2000 to July 2015. AV resuspension was performed in 120 patients to address AV insufficiency (AI).

Short-term clinical outcomes after off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting at a single Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Background: We retrospectively assessed the outcomes after coronary revascularization at a single Veterans Affairs Medical Center when a strategy of assigning higher risk patients to off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was employed.

Methods: Over a 5 year period all consecutive patients that underwent CABG at our VA Medical Center were assigned to a surgeon who either performs the CABG exclusively off-pump or to one who performed the CABG on-pump. The higher risk patients were assigned preferentially for off-pump revascularization.

Recurrent severe aortic stenosis one year after transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve implantation: Successful treatment with balloon aortic valvuloplasty.

Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve (VIV) implantation has evolved as one of the primary therapeutic modalities in patients with failed surgical bioprosthesis allowing a reduction in rate of surgical reintervention. We report a case of a 90-year-old woman who had previously undergone aortic valve replacement with 21-mm Carpentier-Edwards valve in 1999 followed by 23 mm Sapien VIV in March 2013. She developed severe recurrent aortic stenosis 1-year post-VIV which was successfully treated with balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV).

Timely Post-discharge Telephone Follow-Up is a Useful Tool in Identifying Post-discharge Complications Patients After Congenital Heart Surgery.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of structured post-discharge telephone follow-up (TFU) on the time to the first postoperative clinic visit and early unplanned hospital readmissions in patients after congenital heart surgery. Structured phone calls delivered by senior surgical practitioners were made 1-4 days post-discharge. Demographics and clinical outcomes of pediatric patients receiving a TFU from 2012 to 2014 were assessed.

A novel approach to prevent post-operative ileus after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Patients with postoperative ileus (POI), a common post-surgical event, experience intense discomfort. Various treatments targeting prevention of POI have shown to have an unpredictable effect. We introduced a novel postoperative bowel management protocol in patients implanted with a continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD).

Hospital Readmissions After Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation: Incidence, Causes, and Cost Analysis.

Background: We investigated the incidence and causes of unplanned hospital readmissions after continuous-flow (CF) left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. We also analyzed the impact of unplanned readmissions on post-CF-LVAD survival and the costs associated with each cause of readmission.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 126 patients who underwent implantation with a CF-LVAD from January 2007 to December 2013.

Impact of age on outcomes following continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation.

Objectives: The goal of our study was to analyse the impact of age on outcomes in patients who underwent continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) placement at our institution.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-eight patients were implanted with a CF-LVAD between January 2008 and June 2014. Eighty-five patients were implanted with the device as a bridge to transplant (BTT); the remaining (n = 43) were on destination therapy (DT).