Comparison of success and cost after retrieval of two inferior vena cava filters.

Objective: The objective of this study was to help guide inferior vena cava (IVC) filter choices by better understanding the retrieval characteristics, complications, and total costs between two commonly used IVC filters.

Methods: All patients who underwent retrieval or attempted retrieval of Denali (Bard Peripheral Vascular) or Option (Argon Medical Devices) IVC filters were identified between March 2016 and October 2021 at a single tertiary care center. Those with imaging studies that permitted evaluation of filter placement, presence or degree of tilt, and/or hooking of the filter into the IVC wall were included in the present study.

Understanding radiation exposure and improving safety for vascular surgery trainees.

Objective: Despite having robust radiation safety education procedures and policies in place, we discovered that the trainees at our Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-approved integrated vascular surgery residency and fellowship program were exceeding the annual radiation exposure limits. In the present report, we have described our quality improvement project to identify the root causes and implement policies to improve radiation safety education, oversite, and, ultimately, the exposure levels of our trainees.

Methods: A committee of faculty, fellows, radiology nurses, and radiation safety officers from each of the programs affiliated hospitals convened to identify the potential root causes of the increased radiation exposure and potential modifiable actions.

National survey of vascular surgery residents and fellows on radiation exposure and safety practices.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate radiation safety practices, radiation training, and radiation exposure among senior vascular residents and fellows in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited programs across the United States.

Methods: Anonymous surveys were sent to all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education program directors to be distributed to postgraduate year 4 to 7 vascular trainees for completion. The survey questions focused on program type (single vs multiple hospital site), familiarity with their radiation officer, formal radiation training, frequency of radiation feedback, use of safety equipment, and adherence to as low as reasonably achievable principles.

Venous thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19 infection: risk factors, prevention, and management.

Venous thromboembolic complications have emerged as serious sequelae in COVID-19 infections. This article summarizes the most current information regarding pathophysiology, risk factors and hematologic markers, incidence and timing of events, atypical venous thromboembolic complications, prophylaxis recommendations, and therapeutic recommendations. Data will likely to continue to rapidly evolve as more knowledge is gained regarding venous events in COVID-19 patients.

Association of same-day discharge with hospital readmission after pediatric thyroidectomy.

Background: Studies have demonstrated that same-day discharge (SDD) following thyroid resection is safe and feasible in adults but there are no similar studies in the pediatric age group. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of SDD on 30-day readmission rates following thyroid surgery in pediatric patients.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program-Pediatric database to evaluate 30-day readmission rates among patients < 19 years of age who underwent thyroid resection between 2012 and 2017.

Low Complication Rates Using Closed-Incision Negative-Pressure Therapy for Panniculectomies: A Single-Surgeon, Retrospective, Uncontrolled Case Series.

Background: Panniculectomies are associated with high complication rates (43 to 70 percent), particularly in patients with obesity, smoking, and diabetes mellitus. Closed-incision negative-pressure therapy can be used postoperatively to support healing by promoting angiogenesis and decreasing tension. The authors hypothesized that using it with panniculectomies would minimize complications, and that a longer duration of therapy would not increase the incidence of complications.

A Case of Isolated Gastrointestinal Histoplasmosis.

Histoplasmosis is a self-limited and asymptomatic disease in immunocompetent individuals. Patients with untreated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or immune suppression due to medications such as corticosteroids can present with disseminated and life-threatening infections. We present a case of a 60-year-old female that presented with recurrent diarrhea that was found to have isolated gastrointestinal (GI) histoplasmosis.

A rare case of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy causing a small bowel obstruction and subsequent bowel erosion.

Gastrostomy tubes can be used to provide long-term nutrition and feeding when oral intake is not adequate. A rare but serious complication includes iatrogenic small bowel injury. The incidence of this is infrequent due to its position of the small bowel beneath the omentum, however, injury leading to obstruction and volvulus has been previously described in the literature.

Unusual complication of bladder prolapse with subsequent diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma leading to a necrotizing soft tissue infection after radical cystectomy.

There is lack of information in the literature on long-term complications of suprapubic catheters. The most common complications include urinary tract infection, bladder calculi, urine leakage and neoplastic changes. We report a case of an unusual complication of bladder prolapse, with subsequent diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma, leading to a necrotizing soft tissue infection after a radical cystectomy in a patient with long-term catheterization and its management.

Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis of the Gastrointestinal Tract - A Rare Entity.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is an idiopathic and rare disease that ranges in clinical severity based on location and organ involvement. LCH most commonly affects the skin and bones. The involvement of the gastrointestinal tract (GI) in adults is exceedingly rare and only 10 cases have been reported in the literature.