Liver transplantation for biliary cysts: perioperative and long-term outcomes.

Background: Biliary cysts (BC) is a rare indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT).

Methods: We queried the UNOS dataset to identify patients who underwent OLT for Caroli's disease (CD) and choledochal cysts (CC). All patients with BC (CD + CC) were compared to a cohort of patients transplanted for other indications.

Is Internal Mammary to the Anterior Descending Always the Best Option?

The left internal mammary artery (LIMA) is the gold standard conduit used to revascularize the left anterior descending artery and has consistently been shown to be associated with better survival, graft patency, and freedom from cardiac events compared with other used conduits. Evaluation of LIMA flow and anatomy is not routinely done by the interventional cardiologist while performing the left heart catheterization. We present a case where the LIMA was found to be the major blood supply to the left leg, which might have led to leg ischemia if the LIMA had been used as graft.

Ventral hernia patient outcomes postoperatively housed on surgical vs non-surgical units.

Background: Inpatient hospital units vary in staffing ratios, monitoring, procedural abilities, and experience with unique patients and diagnoses. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of patient cohorting upon ventral hernia repair outcomes.

Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective review of open ventral hernia repairs between August 2013 and July 2017 was performed.

Cost Burden and Mortality in Rural Emergency General Surgery Transfer Patients.

Background: Recent articles have suggested regionalization of some emergency general surgery (EGS) problems to tertiary referral centers. We sought to characterize the clinical and cost burden of such transfers to our tertiary referral center.

Materials And Methods: Data were collected retrospectively for nine EGS diagnoses for patients admitted to the EGS service during calendar years 2015 and 2016.

Impact of Aortic Valve Replacement on Glycemic Control in Diabetes Mellitus.

Introduction: The Framingham Studies revealed that diabetes mellitus (DM) predisposed subjects to a two- to eight-fold increase in the risk of developing heart failure (HF). However, there is much less information available about the reverse issue; namely, whether there is an increased risk of developing DM in patients with HF. We sought to determine if reversal or partial reversal of HF through aortic valve replacement (AVR) would improve glycemic control in patients with DM at our institution.

Concomitant open ventral hernia repair: what is the financial impact of performing open ventral hernia with other abdominal procedures concomitantly?

Background: Open ventral hernia repair (VHR) is often performed in conjunction with other abdominal procedures. Clinical outcomes and financial implications of VHR are becoming better understood; however, financial implications of concomitant VHR during other abdominal procedures are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the financial implications of adding VHR to open abdominal procedures.

Dermal Autograft Using Donor Breast as Alternative to Acellular Dermal Matrices in Tissue Expander Breast Reconstruction: A Comparative Review.

Background: Shifting preference for implant-based breast reconstruction has resulted in an increased use of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) in tissue-expander breast reconstruction. The benefits afforded by ADM must be weighed against a potential increased risk for postoperative complications. Dermal autograft-assisted breast reconstruction using autograft harvest from the lower abdomen has been shown to result in equivalent aesthetics and patient satisfaction compared with ADM at a lower cost, with fewer complications.

Cost analysis of iliac stenting performed in the operating room and the catheterization lab: A case-control study.

Background: Iliac arterial stenting is performed both in the operating room (OR) and the catheterization lab (CL). To date, no analysis has compared resource utilization between these locations.

Methods: Consecutive patients (n = 105) treated at a single center were retrospectively analyzed.

When Operating on Dead People Saves Lives: Benefits of Surgical Organ Donor Intensivists.

Solid organ transplantation has emerged as a life-saving treatment for many patients suffering from end-stage organ failure. Organs have been successfully recovered after a variety of aggressive interventions. We propose that decompressive laparotomy, when clinically indicated, should be considered in the aggressive resuscitation of potential organ donors.

Tacrolimus as a rescue immunosuppressant after heart and lung transplantation. The U.S. Multicenter FK506 Study Group.

Background: Organ transplant recipients with refractory rejection or intolerance to conventional immunosuppressants may respond to rescue therapy with tacrolimus.

Methods: Tacrolimus was used as a rescue immunosuppressant for 16 heart and 15 lung recipients. Heart recipients were converted to tacrolimus therapy because of cyclosporine intolerance, acute rejection despite treatment with cyclosporine, or humoral rejection.