Diverticulitis, surgery, evidence-based medicine, and the Steve Jobs' dots: a narrative review.

Purpose: Emergency treatment of acute diverticulitis remains a hazy field. Despite a number of clinical studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), guidelines and surgical societies recommendations, the most critical hot topics have yet to be addressed.

Methods: Literature research from 1963 until today was performed.

Total transverse rupture of the duodenum after blunt abdominal trauma.

Aim: Complete transverse rupture of the duodenum as an isolated lesion in blunt trauma can be considered as exceptional. The aim of this report is to discuss diagnostic procedures and surgical options in such an infrequent presentation.

Case Experience: We report on a 37 year old man who had a total transverse rupture of the duodenum after blunt abdominal trauma.

Current treatment and outcome of esophageal perforations in adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of 75 studies.

Background: The current prognosis of esophageal perforation and the efficacy of available treatment methods are not well defined.

Methods: We performed a systematic review of esophageal perforations published from January 2000 to April 2012 and subjected a proportion of the retrieved data to a meta-analysis. Meta-regression was performed to determine predictors of mortality immediately after esophageal perforation.

Meta-analysis of randomized trials on the efficacy of vascular closure devices after diagnostic angiography and angioplasty.

Background: The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vascular closure devices (VCDs).

Methods: This meta-analysis was performed in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews.

Results: The literature search yielded 31 prospective, randomized studies including 7,528 patients who were randomized to VCDs or manual/mechanical compression after diagnostic angiography and/or endovascular procedures.