Greater ipsilateral rectus muscle atrophy after robotic thoracic surgery compared with open and video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery approaches.

Objective: Robotic thoracic surgery provides another minimally invasive approach in addition to video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) that yields less pain and faster recovery compared with open surgery. However, robotic incisions are generally placed more inferiorly, which may increase the risk of intercostal nerve injury that affects the abdominal wall. We hypothesized that a robotic approach causes greater ipsilateral rectus muscle atrophy compared with open and VATS approaches.

JAK inhibition with tofacitinib rapidly increases contractile force in human skeletal muscle.

Reduction in muscle contractile force associated with many clinical conditions incurs serious morbidity and increased mortality. Here, we report the first evidence that JAK inhibition impacts contractile force in normal human muscle. Muscle biopsies were taken from patients who were randomized to receive tofacitinib (n = 16) or placebo (n = 17) for 48 h.

Management of Paraesophageal Hernias.

Paraesophageal hernias are classified according to the altered anatomic relationships between the gastroesophageal junction or stomach and the diaphragmatic hiatus. Herniation of these structures into the mediastinum may produce common complaints such as reflux, chest pain, and dysphagia. The elective repair of these hernias is well tolerated and significantly improves quality of life among patients with symptomatic disease.

Complications of Outpatient Chest Tube Management for Prolonged Air Leaks After Pulmonary Surgery.

Purpose: Air leaks are common after pulmonary surgery. Prolonged air leaks (PALs) may persist through discharge and often are managed with one-way valve devices (OWD). We sought to determine the course and complications of patients discharged with OWDs, risk factors for complications, and to evaluate the utility of clamp trials before chest tube (CT) removal.

Racial and ethnic differences in patients involved in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle crashes and its related clinical outcomes among various age groups in the U.S.

1) to determine whether the proportion of alcohol-impaired patients involved in motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) varies by race/ethnicity within different age groups; 2) to explore the relationship between alcohol impairment, race/ethnicity and clinical outcomes among patients involved in MVCs across age groups. The 2012 National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) queried for patients aged 16-55 involved in MVCs who received a blood ethanol test on admission. Of the 44,216 patients involved in MVC, 68% were White, 14% Black, and 13% were Hispanic.

Treatment patterns of children with spine and spinal cord tumors: national outcomes and review of the literature.

Background: Tumors of the spine in children are rare, and further clinical description is necessary.

Objective: This study investigated epidemiology, interventions, and outcomes of pediatric patients with spine and spinal cord tumors.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample and Kids' Inpatient Database were used for the study.