Patients Engaged in Losing Weight Preoperatively Experience Improved Outcomes After Hiatal Hernia Repair.

Background: Adherence to preoperative weight loss recommendations may serve as a surrogate for the level of engagement in hiatal hernia (HH) patients. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between achieving preoperative weight loss goals and outcomes after HH repair.

Methods: A retrospective review of 235 patients undergoing laparoscopic HH repair at a single institution was performed.

Total Psoas Area is a Measure for Deconditioning in Colorectal Surgery Patients.

Introduction: Physical fitness is an important prognostic indicator for surgical outcomes. An objective measure of deconditioning is needed to determine patient fitness. This study aims to describe a methodology to standardize psoas measurements and correlate them with postoperative outcomes.

Abdominal Wall Thickness is a Predictor for Surgical Site Infections in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Operations.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are an established complication following colorectal operations, with rates up to 30% reported in the literature. Obesity is a known risk factor for SSI; however, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, waist-hip ratio, or abdominal circumference are imperfect measures. The purpose of our study was to determine whether abdominal wall thickness (AWT) is predictive of SSI.

Significant morbidity is associated with proximal fecal diversion among high-risk patients who undergo colectomy: A NSQIP analysis.

Background: The value of proximal fecal diversion for patients undergoing colectomies is an ongoing debate. Previous studies have shown a benefit in decreased anastomotic leak rates and mitigation of the morbidity of a leak, especially in high-risk populations. However, more recent data suggests increased morbidity with fecal diversion, creating a complication with an unknown degree of anastomotic leak reduction.

Totally extraperitoneal approach for open complex abdominal wall reconstruction.

Background: Ventral hernia repair is typically performed via a transabdominal approach and the peritoneal cavity is opened and explored. Totally extraperitoneal ventral hernia repair (TEVHR) facilitates dissection of the hernia sac without entering the peritoneal cavity. This study evaluates our experience of TEVHR, addressing technique, decision-making, and outcomes.

Anterior versus Posterior Component Separation: Which Is Better?

In the field of hernia surgery, there have been many advances in techniques that have provided the surgeon with a variety of options to repair the difficult abdominal wall hernia. Regardless of the technique, the ultimate goal was to provide a tension-free repair, which attempts to approximate the midline while returning abdominal wall musculature to its normal anatomic position, thus providing the patient with both a cosmetic and durable result with or without the use of a prosthetic reinforcement. Component separation techniques have been widely popularized as techniques to repair complex hernias and are frequently categorized based upon the anatomic location of the myofascial release.

Effect of video laryngoscopy on trauma patient survival: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Many resuscitation scenarios include the use of emergency intubation to support injured patients. New video-guided airway management technology is available, which may minimize the risk to patients from this procedure.

Methods: This was a controlled clinical trial conducted in the trauma receiving unit in a university-affiliated urban hospital in which 623 consecutive adult patients requiring emergency airway management were prospectively randomized to intubation with either the direct laryngoscope (DL) or the GlideScope video laryngoscope (GVL) device.

Disease Ontology: a backbone for disease semantic integration.

The Disease Ontology (DO) database (http://disease-ontology.org) represents a comprehensive knowledge base of 8043 inherited, developmental and acquired human diseases (DO version 3, revision 2510). The DO web browser has been designed for speed, efficiency and robustness through the use of a graph database.