Dry heat sterilization as a method to recycle N95 respirator masks: The importance of fit.

In times of crisis, including the current COVID-19 pandemic, the supply chain of filtering facepiece respirators, such as N95 respirators, are disrupted. To combat shortages of N95 respirators, many institutions were forced to decontaminate and reuse respirators. While several reports have evaluated the impact on filtration as a measurement of preservation of respirator function after decontamination, the equally important fact of maintaining proper fit to the users' face has been understudied.

Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy in an Academic General Surgical Program: Implications for Acute Care Surgeons.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is an important tool in the evolving specialty of acute care surgery (ACS). Understanding the types of nonelective EGDs performed by ACS groups is important for the development of ACS programs and the training of future general surgeons. We conducted a retrospective review of all EGDs performed by ACS surgeons at a single urban academic center over a 5-year period (January 2013-December 2018).

Intraoperative lidocaine infusion and 24-hour postoperative opioid consumption in obese patients undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery.

Background: Bariatric surgery is the most effective long-term treatment for obesity. Opioid-sparing anesthesia and multimodal analgesia such as lidocaine infusion have been recommended in these patients to reduce opioid-related complications. However, evidence supporting its use for bariatric surgery population is limited.

Ampullary stenosis and choledocholithiasis post Roux-En-Y gastric bypass: challenges of biliary access and intervention.

Background: Ampullary stenosis following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is increasingly encountered. We describe cases of biliary obstruction from ampullary stenosis and choledocholithiasis to illustrate the associated diagnostic and interventional challenges with this condition.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of patients with prior RYGB who underwent a biliary access procedure or surgery for non-malignant disease from January 2012-December 2018.

Endoscopic Magnetic Compression Anastomosis For Small Bowel Bypass in a High Operative Risk Setting.

The endoscopic enteroenteral bypass could revolutionize the treatment of small bowel obstruction (SBO) in inoperable patients. We describe the technique of endoscopic delivery of a magnetic compression anastomosis device and the creation of an enteroenteral anastomosis in a patient with recurrent acute on chronic SBOs and prohibitively high operative risk. In this novel procedure, a magnetic compression anastomosis device is delivered on either side of the obstruction using a hybrid endoscopic/fluorographic technique, effectively bypassing the obstruction and relieving symptoms.