The Utility of Additional Imaging in Trauma Consults with Mild to Moderate Injury.

Limiting CT imaging in the ED has gained interest recently. After initial trauma workup for consultations in the ED, additional CT imaging is frequently ordered. We assessed the benefits of this additional imaging.

Is the Face an Air Bag for the Brain and Torso?-The Potential Protective Effects of Severe Midface Fractures.

We investigated the patterns of injury associated with major midface trauma. Our hypothesis is that midface injuries are associated with a decrease in certain traumatic brain injuries as well as major torso injuries. The registry of our Level I trauma center was queried for all adult patients treated over 25 years from 1989 to 2013.

Postdischarge Mortality after Geriatric Low-Level Falls: A Five-Year Analysis.

Geriatric trauma patients with low-level falls often have multiple comorbidities and limited physiologic reserve. Our aim was to investigate postdischarge mortality in this population. We hypothesized that five-year mortality would be higher relative to other blunt mechanisms.

Parathyroid hormone as a marker for hypoperfusion in trauma: A prospective observational study.

Background: Hyperparathyroidism is common in critical illness. Intact parathyroid hormone has a half-life of 3 minutes to 5 minutes due to rapid clearance by the liver, kidneys, and bone. In hemorrhagic shock, decreased clearance may occur, thus making parathyroid hormone a potential early marker for hypoperfusion.

Survival from Traumatic Injury Does Not End at Hospital Discharge: Hospital-Acquired Infections Increase Post-Discharge Mortality.

Background: Hospital-acquired infections (HAI) in trauma patients increase inpatient morbidity and mortality. However, their impact on long-term mortality is not well understood.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective trauma registry analysis of all patients admitted to an academic level I trauma center between July 1, 2008 and December 31, 2012 was performed.

Contact Isolation Precautions in Trauma Patients: An Analysis of Infectious Complications.

Background: Victims of traumatic injuries represent a population at risk for a wide variety of complications. Contact isolation (CI) is a set of restrictions designed to help prevent the transmission of medically significant organisms in the healthcare setting. A growing body of literature demonstrates that CI can have significant implications for the individual isolated patient.

Alternatives to Indwelling Catheters Cause Unintended Complications.

To reduce the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), limiting use of indwelling catheters is encouraged with alternative collection methods and early removal. Adverse effects associated with such practices have not been described. We also determined if CAUTI preventative measures increase the risk of catheter-related complications.

Vital Signs Strongly Predict Massive Transfusion Need in Geriatric Trauma Patients.

Early recognition of massive transfusion (MT) requirement in geriatric trauma patients presents a challenge, as older patients present with vital signs outside of traditional thresholds for hypotension and tachycardia. Although many systems exist to predict MT need in trauma patients, none have specifically evaluated the geriatric population. We sought to evaluate the predictive value of presenting vital signs in geriatric trauma patients for prediction of MT.

Organ donation as an outcome of traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest: A cost evaluation.

Background: Survival after traumatic cardiopulmonary arrest (TCPA) is rare and requires significant resource expenditure. Organ donation as an outcome of TCPA resuscitation has not yet been included in a cost analysis. The aims of this study were to identify variables associated with survival and organ donation after TCPA, and to estimate the cost of achieving these outcomes.

A natural immune modulator attenuates stress hormone and catecholamine concentrations in polymicrobial peritonitis.

Background: Activated hexose correlated compound (AHCC), derived from shiitake mushrooms, increases resistance to infection in immunocompromised hosts with positive effects on dendritic cells, natural killer cell function and interleukin 12 production. It may also be attenuating the systemic inflammatory response by regulating the secretion of cortisol and norepinephrine (NE).

Methods: Female Swiss-Weber mice were pretreated with AHCC (Amino Up Chemical Co.

Single incision laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

Background And Objectives: Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair (LVH) requires several skin incisions for trocar placement. We have developed a single incision approach to LVH repair. The technique was introduced in clinical practice to any consenting patients who were candidates for a standard multi-port laparoscopic hernia repair.

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a cost comparison.

Background: Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) should not cost more or less than traditional laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Methods: Retrospective cost data were collected from the accounting records of a single institution. A direct comparison of LC and SILC was conducted.

Comparison of surgical residency applicants from U.S. medical schools with U.S.-born and foreign-born international medical school graduates.

Objective: Compare characteristics of U.S. medical school graduates with U.