Peritoneal Lavage Cytology Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Gastric Adenocarcinoma: Low Yield in Detecting Peritoneal Metastases.

Background: Peritoneal lavage cytology (PLC) can detect advanced disease in gastric adenocarcinoma (GC); however, routine practice remains controversial. Furthermore, the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on cytological detection of carcinomatosis is unknown.

Methods: Using a 2012-2020 prospective database, we retrospectively reviewed patients with GC who underwent NAC followed by a staging laparoscopic peritoneal lavage with or without biopsy of suspicious peritoneal nodules.

Assessment of Differential Pressures in Chest Drainage Systems: Is What You See What You Get?

Background: Dry-suction chest drainage systems are used to achieve proper drainage of the pleural space after cardiothoracic operations. Data on the actual intrapleural pressure during the use of these systems is lacking. The present study was performed to evaluate pressure differences across the circuit using an ex vivo model.

Day of Discharge Does Not Impact Hospital Readmission After Major Cardiac Surgery.

Background: Because the rate of rehospitalization after major cardiac surgery has been reported up to 22%, an investigation of potential modifiable elements in the discharge process has led our group to evaluate whether the day of discharge affects readmission performance.

Methods: Our institutional Society of Thoracic Surgeons registry was used to identify all adult patients undergoing elective cardiac operations from 2008 to 2016. Emergency, transplant, and mechanical assist patients were excluded.

Does Travel Distance Affect Readmission Rates after Cardiac Surgery?

With emphasis on value-based health care, empiric models are used to estimate expected readmission rates for individual institutions. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between distance traveled to seek surgical care and likelihood of readmission in adult patients undergoing cardiac operations at a single medical center. All adults undergoing major cardiac surgeries from 2008 to 2015 were included.

Are nonemergent cardiac operations performed during off-time associated with worse outcome?

Background: With the implementation of value-based health care, it is of increasing interest to understand whether performing elective surgeries during off-time impacts surgical outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of start times on nonemergent cardiac operations.

Methods: The institutional Society of Thoracic Surgeons was used to identify all adult nonemergent cardiac operations performed between January 2008 and December 2015 at our institution.

Efficacy of an Extracellular Matrix in Systemic Loading Conditions in Congenital Heart Surgery.

Extracellular matrices (ECM) are commonly used to repair congenital heart defects; however, there is a lack of literature pertaining to outcomes with ECM use in high-pressure conditions. Between 2011 and 2014, a total of 202 patients underwent congenital heart disease repair using the ECM placed in a systemic pressure condition. The operative sites included: defects in the ventricular septum, mitral valve, aortic valve, ascending aorta, and aortic arch.

Use of preoperative aspirin in combined coronary and valve operations.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between preoperative aspirin use and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing combined coronary artery bypass grafting and valve operations.

Methods: All combined coronary artery bypass grafting and valve procedures from 2008 to 2015 at our institution were identified. After exclusions, patients were stratified according to those that received preoperative aspirin and those who did not.

Picosecond-resolved fluorescent probes at functionally distinct tryptophans within a thermophilic alcohol dehydrogenase: relationship of temperature-dependent changes in fluorescence to catalysis.

Two single-tryptophan variants were generated in a thermophilic alcohol dehydrogenase with the goal of correlating temperature-dependent changes in local fluorescence with the previously demonstrated catalytic break at ca. 30 °C (Kohen et al., Nature 1999, 399, 496).