Robotic navigational bronchoscopy in a thoracic surgery practice: Leveraging technology in the management of pulmonary nodules.

Objectives: Robotic navigational bronchoscopy is increasingly used to improve diagnostic yield for pulmonary nodules compared with the 50% to 60% obtained by standard bronchoscopy; however, safety and efficacy data are limited to small series. The aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic yield and clinical outcomes in a large multisurgeon single-center cohort.

Methods: All patients who underwent robotic navigational bronchoscopy and biopsy from September 2020 to October 2022 were identified from a prospective institutional registry.

Optimizing physician skill development for medical students: The four-part assessment.

Background: Medical student performance has been poorly correlated with residency performance and warrants further investigation. We propose a novel surgical assessment tool to determine correlations with clinical aptitude.

Methods: Retrospective review of medical student assessments from 2013 to 2015.

Damage control laparotomy utilization rates are highly variable among Level I trauma centers: Pragmatic, Randomized Optimal Platelet and Plasma Ratios findings.

Background: Damage control laparotomy (DCL) is intended to limit deleterious effects from trauma-induced coagulopathy. DCL has been associated with mortality reduction, but may increase complications including sepsis, abscess, respiratory failure, hernia, and gastrointestinal fistula. We hypothesized that (1) DCL incidence would vary between institutions; (2) mortality rates would vary with DCL rates; (3) standard DCL criteria of pH, international normalized ratio, temperature and major intra-abdominal vascular injury would not adequately capture all patients.

A statewide teleradiology system reduces radiation exposure and charges in transferred trauma patients.

Background: Trauma transfer patients routinely undergo repeat imaging because of inefficiencies within the radiology system. In 2009, the virtual private network (VPN) telemedicine system was adopted throughout Oregon allowing virtual image transfer between hospitals. The startup cost was a nominal $3,000 per hospital.