Inter-rater concordance of wound classifications in patients undergoing appendectomy.

Background: Despite the widespread utilization of a four-stage wound classification system to risk-adjust operations for surgical site infection (SSI) rates, we are not aware of any study evaluating the definitions of the wound classes for clarity. We limited our study of wound classifications to appendectomies and posed the question whether different reviewers classify individual cases differently.

Methods: We evaluated the wound classifications of 105 consecutive appendectomies in our community hospital.

Intraluminal duodenal diverticula: collective review with report of a laparoscopic excision.

A comprehensive review of intraluminal duodenal diverticulum (IDD) is presented, along with a report of a completely laparoscopic excision of this duodenal abnormality as well as a report of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography demonstrating the classic fluoroscopic "wind sock sign" pathognomonic appearance of IDD. IDD may easily be missed unless one specifically considers this entity in patients presenting with symptoms of foregut disease. Patients with IDD typically present in the fourth decade of life with duration of symptoms less than 5 years that typically include pain, nausea and vomiting, pancreatitis, and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Factors associated with time to laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

Aim: To determine patient and process of care factors associated with performance of timely laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review of 88 consecutive patients with acute cholecystitis was conducted. Data collected included demographic data, co-morbidities, symptoms and physical findings at presentation, laboratory and radiological investigations, length of stay, complications, and admission service (medical or surgical).

Review article: appendicitis in groin hernias.

To review the clinical presentation, outcome and causes of acute appendicitis presenting within a groin hernia. A comprehensive review of the past 70 years of English language surgical literature was conducted pertaining to acute appendicitis presenting within an inguinal or femoral hernia. Thirty-four reports describing 45 patients were reviewed to determine age, position, gender, pathologic stage at presentation, causal suppositions, and clinical outcomes.