Ephraim McDowell: the qualities of a good surgeon.

Objective: To identify those personal qualities which enabled Dr. Ephraim McDowell to be successful as the first surgeon in the world to remove a large ovarian tumor.

Summary Background Data: Dr.

Serum amylase and lipase alone are not cost-effective screening methods for pediatric pancreatic trauma.

Background: Injury to the pancreas is rare in pediatric trauma. Identification of pancreatic injury relies on clinical, radiographic, and laboratory data. Serum screening for pancreatic injury frequently is used but has not proven to correlate well with pancreatic injury.

A simple technique for preventing bar displacement with the Nuss repair of pectus excavatum.

Background/purpose: The most common complication of the minimally invasive technique for repair of pectus excavatum (MIRPE) is bar displacement, which has been reported to occur in 9.5% of all cases, particularly in teenaged patients. The use of a lateral stabilizing bar has improved stability but has not eliminated the occurrence of this problem.