Superior Mesenteric Artery and Vein Injuries: Operative Strategies and Outcomes.

Traumatic injuries to the mesenteric vessels are rare and often lethal. Visceral vessels, such as the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and vein (SMV), supply blood to the small and large bowel by a rich system of collaterals. Because fewer than 100 such injuries have been described in the literature, they pose challenges in both diagnosis and management and can unfortunately result in high mortality rates.

Mass Casualty Shootings and Emergency Preparedness: A Multidisciplinary Approach for an Unpredictable Event.

Mass casualty events (MCE) are an infrequent occurrence to most daily healthcare systems however these incidents are the causation for new hospital preparedness and the development of coordinated emergency services. The broad support and operational plans outside the hospital include emergency medical services, local law enforcement, government agencies, and city officials. Modern-day hospital disaster preparedness goals include scheduled training for healthcare personnel to ensure effective and accurate triage for a high-volume of injured patients.

Outcomes of off-pump aortic valve bypass surgery for the relief of aortic stenosis in adults.

Background: Elderly patients with aortic stenosis presenting for an aortic valve replacement with a hostile ascending aorta remain a challenging patient cohort. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes after the use of an aortic valve bypass performed without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 21 high-risk patients who underwent primary, isolated aortic valve bypass from September 2004 to June 2009 at Emory Healthcare Hospitals.