Assessing the feasibility and external validity of natural language processing-extracted data for advanced lung cancer patients.

Background: Manual extraction of real-world clinical data for research can be time-consuming and prone to error. We assessed the feasibility of using natural language processing (NLP), an AI technique, to automate data extraction for patients with advanced lung cancer (aLC). We assessed the external validity of our NLP-extracted data by comparing our findings to those reported in the literature.

Open tracheostomy for COVID-19-positive patients: A method to minimize aerosolization and reduce risk of exposure.

Background: The COVID-19 virus is highly contagious, and thus there is a potential of infecting operating staff when operating on these patients. This case series describes a method of performing open tracheostomy for COVID-19 patients while minimizing potential aerosolization of the virus using typically available equipment and supplies.

Methods: This is a case series of 18 patients who were COVID-19-positive and underwent open tracheostomy in the operating room under a negative pressure plastic hood created using readily available equipment and supplies.

Perforated Giant Meckel Diverticulitis in an elderly patient: Case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Giant Meckel's diverticula are a relatively rare form of Meckel's, and henceforth their natural history is not clearly defined. They're currently thought of as an infrequent form of ileal dysgenesis. Noted complications include perforation, torsion and bowel obstruction.