Rare Use of Posterolateral Thoracotomy in an Austere Environment.

A 25-year-old local national male presented to a split Forward Surgical Team after impalement of the posterior chest with a metal fragment. The patient was hemodynamically normal, but no imaging was available to determine the depth of penetration or the size of the internal portion of the fragment. This case represents a rare indication for posterolateral thoracotomy in an austere trauma setting.

A retrospective review of the medical management of hypertension and diabetes mellitus following sleeve gastrectomy.

Background: Bariatric surgery is being performed with increasing frequency in the USA as a definitive treatment for morbid obesity and associated comorbidities. Management strategies of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension (HTN) medications in sleeve gastrectomy (SG) patients postoperatively are unclear, specifically in the immediate postoperative period and 6 months following surgery.

Methods: From 01 June 2010 to 30 June 2011, at a single military medical facility, a retrospective review of 88 consecutive SG patients was conducted to examine the postoperative medical management of HTN and T2DM.

Upper gastrointestinal swallow study following bariatric surgery: institutional review and review of the literature.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of routine upper gastrointestinal imaging following the three forms of laparoscopic bariatric surgery completed at our institution (laparoscopic Roux en Y gastric bypass (LRYGB), laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LS), and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB)).

Methods: Radiograph reports were reviewed from the period of January 2005 to July 2010. During that time, 129 patients underwent LRYGB, 209 underwent LS, and 12 patients underwent LAGB.

Treatment of unicentric Castleman disease with neoadjuvant rituximab.

Angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia, known more commonly as Castleman disease, is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder. Castleman disease has two distinct clinical manifestations described as unicentric and multicentric disease. These presentations have distinct treatment algorithms and portend very different prognoses.

Effects of metal fragments on nerve healing in extremity injuries using a rat peroneal nerve model.

Background: On the modern battlefield, the majority of injuries currently seen are to the extremities, often involving a large number of metallic fragments. Although they are typically left in place, the effects of these retained metal fragments on nerve healing have not been studied.

Study Design: In a rat model, the right peroneal nerve was surgically sectioned and reanastomosed (control group).

Analyzing the short-term effect of placebo therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension: potential implications for the design of future clinical trials.

Background: Placebo is commonly used in short-term randomized trials for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Currently, outcome data regarding placebo are lacking. We conducted a systematic review and performed a metaanalysis to assess its effect.