Publications by authors named "Samuel J Pera"

Introduction: Outcomes for patients with traumatic duodenal injury are determined by the location of the injury, injury severity, and associated injuries. We hypothesized that there is an association among the increased frequency of firearm injuries, the severity of duodenal injuries, trends in repair techniques, and mortality.

Methods: Duodenal injuries managed at an adult level 1 hospital from 2000 to 2022 were identified.

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Background: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a practical resource in the management of traumatic hemothorax. However, it carries inherent risks and should be mobilized cost-effectively. In this study, we investigated the ideal VATS timing using cost analysis.

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Background: Acute kidney injury is classified by urine output into non-oliguric and oliguric variants. Non-oliguric acute kidney injury has lower morbidity and mortality and accounts for up to 64% of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients. However, the incidence of non-oliguric acute kidney injury in the trauma population and whether the 2 variants of acute kidney injury share the same risk factors is unknown.

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Background: The opioid epidemic in the United States continues to lead to a substantial number of preventable deaths and disability. The development of opioid dependence has been strongly linked to previous opioid exposure. Trauma patients are at particular risk since opioids are frequently required to control pain after injury.

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Background: Unintentional firearm injury (UFI) remains a significant problem in the USA with respect to preventable injury and death. The antecedent, behaviour and consequence (ABC) taxonomy has been used by law enforcement agencies to evaluate unintentional firearm discharge. Using an adapted ABC taxonomy, we sought to categorise civilian UFI in our community to identify modifiable behaviours.

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Direct peritoneal resuscitation (DPR) has been found to be a useful adjunct in the management of critically ill trauma patients. DPR is performed following damage control surgery by leaving a surgical drain in the mesentery, placing a temporary abdominal closure, and postoperatively running peritoneal dialysis solution through the surgical drain with removal through the temporary closure. In the original animal models, the peritoneal dialysate infusion was found to augment visceral microcirculatory blood flow reducing the ischemic insult that occurs following hemorrhagic shock.

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Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has altered daily life on a global scale and has resulted in significant mortality with >985,000 lives lost in the United States alone. Superimposed on the COVID-19 pandemic has been a concurrent worsening of longstanding urban gun violence. We sought to evaluate the impact attributable to these 2 major public health issues on the greater Louisville region as determined by years of potential life lost.

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A 42-year-old male patient presented with intermittent abdominal pain and gastrointestinal discomfort present for 4 years. Work-up included ultrasound and computed tomography, which identified a fat-containing splenic mass 5.6 cm in size.

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Introduction: Duplicate gallbladder is a congenital anomaly with various anatomical presentations that can pose difficult diagnostic dilemmas. This case presents the consequence of recurrent cholecystitis after prior cholecystectomy due to delay in diagnosis of a duplicate gallbladder and insufficient treatment at first presentation. It also provides the opportunity to discuss the anatomical variations of duplicate gallbladders and their clinical implications.

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