Healthcare Provider's Preferences on Open Versus Restricted Visiting Hours in Surgical Intensive Care Unit.

Background: The increasing consideration of open visiting hours in intensive care units (ICUs) has presented implementation challenges. Recognizing the invaluable insights of healthcare providers, this study aimed to assess their perspectives on the potential impact of altering ICU visiting policies on patient care.

Materials And Methods:  In a single-institution, cross-sectional study, a five-point Likert survey was administered to healthcare providers working in a surgical ICU to assess their perceptions of open and restricted visiting hours.

Penetrating thoracic injury requiring emergency pneumonectomy supported with two ECMO runs: A testament to multidisciplinary critical care medicine.

Post-traumatic pneumonectomies are uncommon and, if necessary, carry significant mortality. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for lung injury in trauma patient has demonstrated efficacy with minimal bleeding complications. We report a case of a young man with a penetrating thoracic injury that required a pneumonectomy supported with two separate ECMO runs for pulmonary failure postoperatively.

Appendectomy Hospital Stay: No Difference in Obese Adult or Pediatric Patient Length of Stay Compared to Nonobese Patients.

Studies of adult and pediatric patients undergoing appendectomy have reported variable outcomes and operative metrics related to the effect of obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of obesity in adult and pediatric patients undergoing appendectomy at our institution. This single-center retrospective study evaluated the relationship between length of hospital stay for appendectomy and body mass index (BMI).

Lazarus phenomenon in trauma.

Lazarus phenomenon embodies auto-resuscitation, aka the return of spontaneous circulation following termination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Limited or no literature exists that describes auto-resuscitation in trauma. In the current report, we describe a case of an older woman that presented with poly-traumatic injuries following a motor vehicle collision.

Comparing Surgical Site Infection for Open and Endoscopic Component Separation.

In March 2016, we reported the SSI rate at LSU Health for all abdominal wall hernia repairs performed between 2011 and 2013. Among the 263 repairs, the infection rate averaged 6.8 per cent.

Prophylactic Antibiotics for Elective Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy.

Surgical site infections with elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy are less frequent and less severe, leading some to suggest that prophylactic antibiotics (PA) are no longer indicated. We compared the incidence of surgical site infections before and after an institutional practice change of withholding PA for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Between May 7, 2013, and March 11, 2015, no PA were given to patients selected for elective cholecystectomy by two surgeons at a single center.

Occult lawn mower projectile injury presenting with hemoptysis.

We present the case of a 72-year-old man with hemoptysis after a thoracic projectile injury, which occurred while mowing the lawn. Chest radiograph followed by a computed tomography angiogram revealed a metallic foreign body in the right middle lobe of the lung. The patient underwent a right anterolateral thoracotomy where the object was successfully retrieved.

Obturator Hernia, 'The Little Old Lady Hernia'.

Obturator hernia is a rare type of abdominal hernia that classically presents in elderly women. We report the case of 78-year-old woman with progressive vomiting, obstipation, and abdominal pain. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a left-sided obturator hernia, which was confirmed and treated at laparotomy.

Impact of Prehospital Transportation on Survival in Skiers and Snowboarders with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Introduction: Prehospital helicopter use and its impact on outcomes in snowboarders and skiers incurring traumatic brain injury (TBI) is unknown. The present study investigates the association of helicopter transport with survival of snowboarders and skiers with TBI, in comparison with ground emergency medical services (EMS), by using data derived from the National Trauma Data Bank (2007-2014).

Methods: Primary and secondary endpoints were defined as in-hospital survival and absolute risk reduction based upon number needed to transport (treat) respectively.