Long-Term Outcomes of Vein Adjuncts in Distal Infrainguinal Bypass.

Background: Autologous vein is recommended for infrainguinal bypass due to improved freedom from occlusion compared to prosthetic graft. In patients without adequate vein, a vein adjunct at the distal anastomosis has been suggested to improve patency in small studies. This study aimed to determine if performance of a distal vein adjunct was associated with improved freedom from occlusion in below-knee popliteal and tibial bypasses compared to prosthetic bypass alone.

Treatment Location Variation for Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia in Patients With Kidney Failure.

Introduction: End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is an established risk factor for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Procedural location for ESKD patients has not been well described. This study aims to examine variation in index procedural location in ESKD versus non-ESKD patients undergoing peripheral vascular intervention for CLTI and identify preoperative risk factors for tibial interventions.

Readability of patient education materials for bariatric surgery.

Introduction: Bariatric surgery is a successful treatment for obesity, but barriers to surgery exist, including low health literacy. National organizations recommend patient education materials (PEM) not exceed a sixth-grade reading level. Difficult to comprehend PEM can exacerbate barriers to bariatric surgery, especially in the Deep South where high obesity and low literacy rates exist.

Differences in Long-Term Outcomes in End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia.

Background: End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is a risk factor for peripheral arterial disease and major adverse limb events following infra-inguinal bypass. Despite comprising an important patient population, ESKD patients are rarely analyzed as a subgroup and are underrepresented in vascular surgery guidelines. This study aims to compare the long-term outcomes of patients with and without ESKD undergoing endovascular peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI).

Early Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Traumatically Injured Patients: A National Trauma Database Analysis.

Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in acute trauma patients is a poorly characterized event. While ECMO most commonly has been deployed for advanced cardiopulmonary or respiratory failure following initial resuscitation, growing levels of evidence for out of hospital cardiac arrest support early ECMO cannulation as part of resuscitative efforts. We sought to perform a descriptive analysis evaluating traumatically injured patients, who were placed on ECMO, during their initial resuscitation period.

Does Chair of Surgery Gender Influence Divisional or Residency Program Director Gender Diversity?

Background: Workplace diversity is beneficial and results in new ideas and improved performance. Within surgery leadership, the gender gap is improving, but still present. Given the increasing number of women surgery department chairs, we aimed to examine the association of surgery chair gender with division and residency program director gender.

Closing the gap: Increasing female representation in surgical leadership.

Background: Female medical students outnumber males with increasing representation in the workforce. However, women remain underrepresented in surgical leadership. Suggested reasons for this discrepancy are lack of female role models, mentorship, and gender discrimination.

Achalasia and obesity: patient outcomes and impressions following laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication.

Purpose: The optimal management of achalasia in obese patients is unclear. For those who have undergone Heller myotomy and fundoplication, the long-term outcomes and their impressions following surgery are largely unknown.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients who underwent laparoscopic Heller myotomy and Dor fundoplication (LHMDF) for achalasia was performed.

False lumen embolization as a rescue technique in the setting of acute and chronic dissecting aneurysms as adjunct to thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Complicated type B aortic dissection (TBAD) is a life-threatening condition requiring surgical intervention. One such complication in the acute or chronic setting is aneurysmal degeneration. The dissected aortic wall is weakened, and the pressures in the false lumen are often high.

Incidence of Fever and Positive Bacterial Cultures in Neonates Receiving Prostaglandin.

Prostaglandin E (PGE) is necessary to maintain ductus arteriosus patency in many newborns with congenital heart disease. Because PGE therapy commonly leads to fever, and given this population's fragile state, a complete sepsis workup is often performed in febrile, but otherwise asymptomatic, patients. This practice of liberal evaluation with bacterial cultures, empiric antibiotic treatment, and delays in essential surgical intervention may result in poor resource utilization and lead to increased iatrogenic morbidity.

Ex Situ Perfusion of Human Limb Allografts for 24 Hours.

Background: Vascularized composite allografts, particularly hand and forearm, have limited ischemic tolerance after procurement. In bilateral hand transplantations, this demands a 2 team approach and expedited transfer of the allograft, limiting the recovery to a small geographic area. Ex situ perfusion may be an alternative allograft preservation method to extend allograft survival time.