Efficacy of the Radiofrequency Identification Technique in Breast Cancer Patients: A Single Institution Retrospective Study.

Objective: Breast conserving surgery is an excellent option in the treatment of breast cancer. To achieve a good result with this modality, a surgeon needs to identify and excise the tumor with adequate margins. The radiofrequency identification (RFID) technique is a wireless localization technique used for intraoperative breast lesion identification.

Early pseudoaneurysm degeneration in biologic extracellular matrix patch for carotid repair.

A newly-approved carotid patch, derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS), is thought to allow functional tissue regeneration by acting as a biologic scaffold of extracellular matrix. We report three cases of asymptomatic pseudoaneurysm after SIS patch closure. At exploration there were intact suture lines, no growth from cultures, and central patch herniation.

Causes of high mortality in colorectal surgery: a review of episodes of care in Veterans Affairs hospitals.

Background: The episode of care for colorectal surgery in 8 outlier Veterans Affairs Hospitals with high mortality and the volume outcome relationship in 118 Hospitals are examined.

Methods: A total of 103 deaths were reviewed. Mean age was 74 with 63% of the patients undergoing emergency surgery; 54% of the patients had malignant disease and 21% had metastatic disease.