Clinical relevance of the blanking period on late recurrence after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: Recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) within the blanking period after catheter ablation (CA) is traditionally classified as a transient and benign event. However, recent findings suggest that early recurrence (ER) is associated with late recurrence (LR), challenging the predefined "blanking period". We aimed to determine the clinical and procedural predictors of ER and LR after CA and establish the risk of LR in patients who experience ER. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective single-centre study including all patients who underwent a first procedure of AF CA between 2017 and 2019. ER was defined as any recurrence of AF, atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia >30 s within 90 days after CA and LR as any recurrence after 90 days of CA. A total of 399 patients were included, 37% women, median age of 58 years [49-66] and 77% had paroxysmal AF. Median follow-up was 33 months (from 13 to 61). ER after CA was present in 14% of the patients, and LR was reported in 32%. Among patients who experienced ER, 84% also had LR (p < .001). Patients with ER had a higher prevalence of moderate/severe valvular heart disease, persistent AF, previous electrical cardioversion, a larger left atrium, higher coronary artery calcium score, and higher rates of intraprocedural electrical cardioversion and cardiac fibrosis on eletroanatomical mapping compared with patients without ER. After covariate adjustment, ER and female sex were defined as independent predictors of LR (hazard ratio [HR] 4.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.99-7.35; p < .001 and HR 2.73; 95% CI, 1.47-5.10; p = .002, respectively). CONCLUSION: The risk of LR after an index procedure of CA was significantly higher in patients with ER (five-fold increased risk). These results support the imperative need to clarify the clinical role of the blanking period.

Agitation in the Trauma Bay Is an Early Indicator of Hemorrhagic Shock.

INTRODUCTION: Agitation on arrival in trauma patients is known as a sign of impending demise. The aim of this study is to determine outcomes for trauma patients who present in an agitated state. We hypothesized that agitation in the trauma bay is an early indicator for hemorrhage in trauma patients. METHODS: We performed a single-institution prospective observational study from September 2018 to December 2020 that included any trauma patient who arrived agitated, defined as a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale of +1 to +4. Variables collected included demographics, mechanism of injury, admission physiology, blood alcohol level, toxicity screen, and injury severity. The primary outcomes were need for massive transfusion (≥ 10 units) and need for emergent therapeutic intervention for hemorrhage control (laparotomy, preperitoneal pelvic packing, sternotomy, thoracotomy, or angioembolization). RESULTS: Of 4657 trauma admissions, 77 (2%) patients arrived agitated. Agitated patients were younger (40 versus 46, P = 0.03), predominantly male (94% versus 66%, P < 0.0001) sustained more penetrating trauma (31% versus 12%, P < 0.0001), had a lower systolic blood pressure (127 versus 137, P < 0.0001), and a higher Injury Severity Score (17 versus 9, P < 0.0001). On multivariable logistic regression, agitation was independently associated with massive transfusion (odds ratio: 2.63 [1.20-5.77], P = 0.02) and emergent therapeutic intervention for hemorrhage control (odds ratio: 2.60 [1.35-5.03], P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Agitation in trauma patients may serve as an early indicator of hemorrhagic shock, as agitation is independently associated with a two-fold increase in the need for massive transfusion and emergent therapeutic intervention for hemorrhage control.

Transabdominal open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is associated with higher rates of late reintervention and readmission compared with the retroperitoneal approach.

OBJECTIVE: Limited data exist comparing the transabdominal and retroperitoneal approaches to open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, especially late mortality and laparotomy-related reinterventions and readmissions. Therefore, we compared long-term rates of mortality, reintervention, and readmission after open AAA repair through a transabdominal compared with a retroperitoneal approach. METHODS: We identified all patients in the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) undergoing open AAA repair from 2003 to 2015. Patients with rupture or supraceliac clamp were excluded. We used the VQI linkage to Medicare to ascertain rates of long-term outcomes, including rates of AAA-related and laparotomy-related (ie, hernia, bowel obstruction) reinterventions and readmissions. We used multivariable Cox regression to account for differences in comorbidities, aneurysm details, and operative characteristics. RESULTS: We identified 1282 patients in the VQI with linkage to Medicare data, 914 (71%) who underwent a transperitoneal approach and 368 (29%) who underwent a retroperitoneal approach. Patients who underwent a retroperitoneal approach were slightly more likely to have preoperative renal insufficiency but were otherwise similar in terms of demographics and comorbidities. They more often had a clamp above at least one renal artery (61% vs 36%; P < .001) and underwent concomitant renal revascularization (9.5% vs 4.3%; P < .001). Patients who underwent a transabdominal approach more often presented with symptoms (14% vs 9.0%; P < .01) and had a femoral distal anastomosis (15% vs 7.1%; P < .001). There was no difference in 5-year survival (62% vs 61%; log-rank, P = .51). However, patients who underwent a transabdominal approach experienced higher rates of repair-related reinterventions and readmissions (5-year: 42% vs 34%; log-rank, P < .01), even after adjustment for demographic and operative differences (hazard ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.9; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: A transabdominal exposure for AAA repair is associated with higher rates of late reintervention and readmission than with the retroperitoneal approach, which should be considered when possible in operative decision-making.

Crash Fatality Rates After Recreational Marijuana Legalization in Washington and Colorado.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate motor vehicle crash fatality rates in the first 2 states with recreational marijuana legalization and compare them with motor vehicle crash fatality rates in similar states without recreational marijuana legalization. METHODS: We used the US Fatality Analysis Reporting System to determine the annual numbers of motor vehicle crash fatalities between 2009 and 2015 in Washington, Colorado, and 8 control states. We compared year-over-year changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates (per billion vehicle miles traveled) before and after recreational marijuana legalization with a difference-in-differences approach that controlled for underlying time trends and state-specific population, economic, and traffic characteristics. RESULTS: Pre-recreational marijuana legalization annual changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado were similar to those for the control states. Post-recreational marijuana legalization changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado also did not significantly differ from those for the control states (adjusted difference-in-differences coefficient = +0.2 fatalities/billion vehicle miles traveled; 95% confidence interval = -0.4, +0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Three years after recreational marijuana legalization, changes in motor vehicle crash fatality rates for Washington and Colorado were not statistically different from those in similar states without recreational marijuana legalization. Future studies over a longer time remain warranted.

Discontinuity of the Bowel Following Damage Control Operation Revisited: A Multi-institutional Study.

BACKGROUND: Discontinuity of the bowel following intestinal injury and resection is a common practice in damage control procedures for severe abdominal trauma. However, there are concerns that complete occlusion of the bowel, especially in the presence of hypotension or edema that may result in ischemic bowel changes or increase bacterial or toxin translocation. METHODS: This was a retrospective study from three Level-1 trauma centers. Included were trauma patients who required bowel resection and damage control. The study population was stratified into two groups based on the management for bowel injury: bowel discontinuity versus primary anastomosis. Outcomes included anastomotic leak, organ space infection, bowel ischemia, and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 167 cases were included. In 84 cases, continuity of the bowel was established, and in 83, the bowel was left in discontinuity. The epidemiological, admission, and intraoperative physiological characteristics, the abdominal Abbreviated Injury Scale, type of intra-abdominal injury, and transfusion requirements were similar in the two study groups. The mortality was 8.3 % in the continuity group and 16.9 % for the discontinuity group (p = 0.096). On the crude bivariate and adjusted regression analyses, there was a higher rate of bowel ischemia at the take-back operation in the discontinuity group (p = 0.003 for the crude and p = 0.034 for the adjusted). The organ space infection and anastomotic leak rate were not significantly different between the study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Discontinuity of the bowel following damage control operation is associated with a higher risk of bowel ischemia than in patients with anastomosis. Further prospective observational and randomized studies are warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Thromboelastogram does not detect pre-injury anticoagulation in acute trauma patients.

PURPOSE: Thromboelastography (TEG) has been recommended to characterize post-traumatic coagulopathy, yet no study has evaluated the impact of pre-injury anticoagulation (AC) on TEG variables. We hypothesized patients on pre-injury AC have a greater incidence of coagulopathy on TEG compared to those without AC. METHODS: This retrospective chart review evaluated all trauma patients admitted to an urban, level one trauma center from February 2011 to September 2014 who received a TEG within the first 24h. Patients were classified as receiving pre-injury AC or no AC if their documented medications prior to admission included warfarin, dabigatran, or anti-Xa (aXa) inhibitors (apixaban or rivaroxaban). The presence of coagulopathy on TEG or conventional assays was defined by exceeding local laboratory reference standards. RESULTS: A total of 54 patients were included (AC, n=27 [warfarin n=13, dabigatran n=6, aXa inhibitor n=8] vs. no AC, n=27). Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, including age (72±13years vs. 72±15; p=0.85), male gender (70% vs. 74%; p=0.76) and blunt mechanism of injury (100% vs. 100%; p=1). There was no difference in the number of patients determined to have coagulopathy on TEG (no AC 11% vs. AC 15%; p=0.99). Conventional tests, including the international normalized ratio (INR) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), identified coagulopathy in a high proportion of anti-coagulated patients (no AC 22% vs. AC 85%; p<0.01). CONCLUSION: TEG has limited clinical utility to evaluate the presence of pre-injury AC. Traditional markers of drug induced coagulopathy should guide reversal decisions.

The impact of exposure technique on perioperative complications in patients undergoing elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of exposure technique on perioperative complications in patients undergoing elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. METHODS: Using the Society for Vascular Surgery Vascular Quality Initiative database, the study identified patients subjected to open AAA repair from January 2003 to July 2014 and divided them into two aortic exposure groups, retroperitoneal (RP) and transperitoneal (TP). Multivariable analysis was performed to compare the incidence of cardiac events (myocardial infarction, dysrhythmia, heart failure), prolonged intubation, renal dysfunction, and mortality, adjusting for between-group differences identified on univariate analysis. RESULTS: Open AAA repair was performed in 3530 patients, using RP in 26% and TP in 74%. The RP group had a higher rate of suprarenal aortic clamp (60.9% vs 30.2%; P < .001), higher proportion of high-risk patients as stratified by the Vascular Study Group of New England Cardiac Risk Index (25.6% vs 22.2%; P = .038), and lower rate of iliac aneurysms (18.0% vs 31.2%; P < .001). After multivariable analysis, RP was associated with a lower incidence of cardiac events (12.2% vs 16.0%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.88; P = .009) and renal dysfunction (13.3% vs 16.5%; adjusted odds ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.97; P = .011). No difference in respiratory complications or mortality was identified. CONCLUSIONS: Despite increased utilization of suprarenal aortic clamp during elective open AAA repair, the RP technique was associated with a lower risk-adjusted incidence of cardiac and renal complications compared with the TP technique.

Vein harvesting technique for infrainguinal arterial bypass with great saphenous vein and its association with surgical site infection and graft patency.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the association of vein harvesting technique (VHT) with surgical site infection (SSI) and graft patency after infrainguinal arterial bypass. METHODS: The Vascular Quality Initiative database was used to review VHT of all patients undergoing single-segment great saphenous vein graft infrainguinal arterial bypass from 2003 to 2013. Patients were divided into three groups according to the VHT used (continuous incision, skip incision, and endoscopic). Multinomial logistic regression was performed to estimate propensity scores for each treatment group. Propensity score adjustment was included in multivariable analysis of the primary outcomes: SSI and graft primary patency. RESULTS: From 2003 to 2013, 5066 patients underwent single-segment great saphenous vein graft infrainguinal bypass. The VHT was continuous incision in 48.6%, skip incision in 39.7%, and endoscopic in 12.7%. SSI rates did not differ significantly among the groups (continuous, 4.7%; skip, 4.0%; endoscopic, 3.4%; P = .278). On multivariable analysis, there was no difference in discharge primary patency between the three groups. At 1 year, primary patency rates were 69.5% for continuous, 73.0% for skip, and 58.6% for endoscopic (P < .001). After multivariable analysis, endoscopic vein harvest was independently associated with higher 1-year primary patency loss compared with both continuous (hazard ratio [HR], 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.74; P = .020) and skip (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.18-2.00; P = .002). There was no significant difference in 1-year primary patency loss between continuous and skip techniques (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.73-1.05; P = .170). CONCLUSIONS: No association between the choice of VHT and the development of SSI after infrainguinal arterial bypass was identified in the Vascular Quality Initiative population. Endoscopic VHT was associated with significantly reduced 1-year primary patency rate compared with both continuous and skip techniques.

Infective endocarditis associated superior mesenteric artery pseudoaneurysm.

BACKGROUND: Since William Osler first described mycotic aneurysms in the setting of endocarditis in 1885, few pseudoaneurysms (PAs) of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) have been reported in the literature. We report 2 cases of SMA PA related to infective endocarditis that were managed with open surgery. RESULTS: Here we report 2 cases of SMA PAs treated with different surgical techniques. A 59-year-old male with a history of intravenous drug use presented with abdominal pain and was found to have Streptococcus viridans endocarditis and an SMA PA. A laparotomy was performed, and proximal and distal control of the SMA PA was obtained. After ensuring that Doppler signals were still present in the distal mesentery and the entirety of the bowel was viable, the SMA was ligated proximal and distal to the PA. The patient recovered uneventfully. The second case is a 35-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain and was found to have Streptococcos gordonii endocarditis and an SMA PA for which the patient was initially observed. After several weeks, the patient's condition deteriorated and the patient underwent open ligation of the SMA, proximal and distal to the PA, with a bypass from the infrarenal abdominal aorta to a distal unnamed SMA branch and resection of 3 ft of ischemic small bowel. The patient continued to have recurrent bowel ischemia over the next several weeks and ultimately died. CONCLUSIONS: SMA PAs associated with infective endocarditis are rare, but carry a high risk of rupture and associated morbidity and mortality. Delay in surgical management may increase this risk.

Trends in prehospital cervical collar utilization in trauma patients: Closer, but not there yet.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the change in cervical spine (C-spine) immobilization frequency in trauma patients over time. We hypothesize that the frequency of unnecessary C-spine immobilization has decreased. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of adult trauma patients transported to our American College of Surgeons-verified Level I trauma center from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2021, was performed. Emergency medical services documentation was manually reviewed to record prehospital physiology and the application of a prehospital cervical collar (c-collar). C-spine injuries were defined as cervical vertebral fractures and/or spinal cord injuries. Univariate and year-by-year trend analyses were used to assess changes in C-spine injury and immobilization frequency. RESULTS: Among 2906 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 12% sustained C-spine injuries, while 88% did not. Patients with C-spine injuries were more likely to experience blunt trauma (95% vs. 68%, p < 0.001), were older (46 years vs. 41 years, p < 0.001), and had higher Injury Severity Scores (31 vs. 18, p < 0.001). They also exhibited lower initial systolic blood pressures (108 mm Hg vs. 119 mm Hg, p < 0.001), lower heart rates (92 beats/min vs. 97 beats/min, p < 0.05), and lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores (9 vs. 11, p < 0.001). In blunt trauma, c-collars were applied to 83% of patients with C-spine injuries and 75% without; for penetrating trauma, c-collars were applied to 50% of patients with C-spine injuries and only 8% without. Among penetrating trauma patients with C-spine injury, all patients either arrived quadriplegic or did not require emergent neurosurgical intervention. The proportion of patients receiving a c-collar decreased in both blunt and penetrating traumas from 2014 to 2021 (blunt-82% in 2014 to 68% in 2021; penetrating-24% in 2014 to 6% in 2021). CONCLUSIONS: Unnecessary C-spine stabilization has decreased from 2014 to 2021. However, c-collars are still being applied to patients who do not need them, both in blunt and in penetrating trauma cases, while not being applied to patients who would benefit from them.

Nonoperative Management for Low-Grade Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury.

BACKGROUND: Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is the standard of care for the treatment of blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) requiring intervention. Data suggest that low-grade BTAI (grade I [intimal tears] or grade II [intramural hematoma]) will resolve spontaneously if treated with nonoperative management (NOM) alone. There has been no comparison specifically between the use of NOM vs TEVAR for low-grade BTAI. We hypothesize that these low-grade injuries can be safely managed with NOM alone. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of all patients with a low-grade BTAI in the Aortic Trauma Foundation Registry from 2016 to 2021 was performed. The study population was 1 primary outcome was mortality. Secondary outcomes included complications, ICU length of stay, and ventilator days. RESULTS: A total of 880 patients with BTAI were enrolled. Of the 269 patients with low-grade BTAI, 218 (81%) were treated with NOM alone (81% grade I, 19% grade II), whereas 51 (19%) underwent a TEVAR (20% grade I, 80% grade II). There was no difference in demographic or mechanism of injury in patients with low-grade BTAI who underwent NOM vs TEVAR. There was a difference in mortality between NOM alone and TEVAR (8% vs 18%, p = 0.009). Aortic-related mortality was 0.5% in the NOM group and 4% in the TEVAR group (p = 0.06). Hospital and ICU length of stay and ventilator days were not different between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: NOM alone is safe and appropriate management for low-grade BTAI, with lower mortality and decreased rates of complication when compared with routine initial TEVAR.

Temporal changes in the prehospital management of trauma patients: 2014-2021.

INTRODUCTION: Aggressive prehospital interventions (PHI) in trauma may not improve outcomes compared to prioritizing rapid transport. The aim of this study was to quantify temporal changes in the frequency of PHI performed by EMS. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of adult patients transported by EMS to our trauma center from January 1, 2014 to 12/31/2021. PHI were recorded and annual changes in their frequency were assessed via year-by-year trend analysis and multivariate regression. RESULTS: Between the first and last year of the study period, the frequency of thoracostomy (6% vs. 9%, p â€‹= â€‹0.001), TXA administration (0.3% vs. 33%, p â€‹< â€‹0.001), and whole blood administration (0% vs. 20%, p â€‹< â€‹0.001) increased. Advanced airway procedures (21% vs. 12%, p â€‹< â€‹0.001) and IV fluid administration (57% vs. 36%, p â€‹< â€‹0.001) decreased. ED mortality decreased from 8% to 5% (p â€‹= â€‹0.001) over the study period. On multivariate regression, no PHI were independently associated with increased or decreased ED mortality. CONCLUSION: PHI have changed significantly over the past eight years. However, no PHI were independently associated with increased or decreased ED mortality.

Structural Racism, Residential Segregation, and Exposure to Trauma: The Persistent Impact of Redlining.

INTRODUCTION: As part of New Deal era federal housing policy, the Home Owners Loan Corporation (HOLC) developed maps grading US neighborhoods by perceived financial security. Neighborhoods with high concentrations of racial and ethnic minorities were deemed financially unstable and denied federal investment, a practice colloquially known as redlining. The aim of this study was to assess the association of historical redlining within Austin, Texas to spatial patterns of penetrating traumatic injury. METHODS: Retrospective cross sectional study utilizing data from violent penetrating trauma admissions between January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2021, at the single Level 1 trauma center in Austin, Texas. Using ArcGIS, addresses where the injury took place were geocoded and spatial joining was used to match them to their corresponding census tract, for which 1935 HOLC financial designations are classified as: "Hazardous", "Definitely Declining", "Still Desirable", "Best", or "Non HOLC Graded". Tracts with designations of "Hazardous" and "Definitely Declining" were categorized as Redlined. The adjusted incidence rate ratio comparing rates of penetrating trauma among historically Redlined vs. Not Redlined and Not Graded census tracts was calculated. RESULTS: 1,404 violent penetrating trauma admissions were identified for the study period, of which 920 occurred within the county of interest. Among these, 5% occurred in census tracts that were Not Redlined, 13% occurred in Redlined tracts, and 82% occurred in non HOLC graded tracts. When adjusting for differences in current census tract demographics and social vulnerability, historically Redlined areas experienced a higher rate of penetrating traumatic injury (Not Redlined IRR = 0.42, 95% CI 0.19-0.94, p = 0.03; Not Graded IRR = 0.15, 95% CI 0.07-0.29, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Neighborhoods unfavorably classified by HOLC in 1935 continue to experience a higher incidence rate of violent penetrating trauma today. These results underscore the persistent impacts of structural racism and of historical residential segregation policies on exposure to trauma. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV, Prognostic and Epidemiological.

Barriers to Breastfeeding During Surgery Residency.

OBJECTIVE: Breastfeeding is a highly demanding experience, especially for surgical residents who pump after returning to work. We believe that there are obstacles to pumping and opportunities exist to improve support for this group. The objective of this study was to understand the experience of breastfeeding surgery residents and find opportunities for increased support. DESIGN: Surveys were sent out through the Association of Program Directors in Surgery for distribution among current residents. A survey was also conducted in a private group of surgeon mothers to identify those who had previously been breastfeeding during residency. SETTING: All surveys were performed online with results collected in a REDCap web-based application. PARTICIPANTS: Participants were those who gave birth during their surgical residency. RESULTS: 67% of the 246 survey respondents stated that they did not have adequate time for pumping and 56% rarely had access to a lactation room. 69% of mothers reported a reduction in milk supply and 64% stated that the time constraints of residency shortened the total duration they breastfed. 59% of women did not feel comfortable asking to pump. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical residents reported a lack of space, resources, and dedicated time for pumping. These deficiencies contribute to shorter breastfeeding duration. It is crucial to provide lactation rooms and to foster a supportive culture.

Early operation is associated with a survival benefit for patients with adhesive bowel obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of surgical delay on the outcomes of patients with adhesive small bowel obstruction (ASBO). BACKGROUND: It is generally accepted that patients with uncomplicated ASBO failing nonoperative management should be operated on within 5 days. However, the optimal time of operation within this 5-day period is unknown. METHODS: Patients requiring surgery for ASBO were identified from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Linear regression was performed to evaluate the impact of incremental surgical delay in mortality and complications. The study population was stratified by time to intervention (24-hour intervals), and logistic regression was performed to adjust for premorbid conditions and presentation physiology. The outcomes included 30-day mortality and infectious complications. RESULTS: A total of 4163 patients underwent laparotomy for ASBO. Mortality and complications increased significantly with operative delay. Delay of 24 hours or more was associated with significantly higher mortality: 6.5% vs 3.0%; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.58 (1.12-2.24)]; P = 0.009. The delayed operation group (≥24 hours) also had significantly higher rates of surgical site infections [12.9% vs 10.0%; AOR (95% CI), 1.33 (1.08-1.62); P = 0.007], pneumonia (7.9% vs 5.2%; AOR (95% CI), 1.36 (1.04-1.78); P = 0.025], sepsis [7.6% vs 5.1%; AOR (95% CI), 1.45 (1.10-1.90); P = 0.007], and septic shock [6.2% vs 3.5%; AOR (95% CI), 1.47 (1.07-2.02); P = 0.018]. Early operation was associated with significantly shorter hospital stay [8.4 ± 8.3 vs 14.4±13.5 days; adjusted mean difference (95% CI), -5.2 (-5.9 to -4.4); P<0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Early operative intervention for patients with ASBO is associated with a significant survival benefit, lower incidence of local and systemic complications, and shorter hospitalization.

Prospective evaluation of early follow-up chest radiography after penetrating thoracic injury.

BACKGROUND: In asymptomatic patients with penetrating thoracic trauma and a normal initial chest x-ray, successive prospective trials have decreased the minimum observation period required for exclusion of significant injury from 6 to 3 h. Despite the quality of these studies, this interval remains arbitrary and the true requisite observation time for safe discharge remains unknown. The current study evaluates the ability of "early" repeat chest x-ray, at intervals approaching 1 h, to exclude clinically significant injury. METHODS: Eighty-eight, asymptomatic patients with penetrating chest trauma and normal initial chest radiographs were prospectively enrolled in this study. All patients received an "early" follow-up chest x-ray, at a median interval of 1 h and 34 min (interquartile range: 1 h 35 min to 2 h 22 min), and a second repeat x-ray at a "delayed" interval no earlier than 3 h postadmission. Radiographic abnormalities in clinically stable patients were followed with serial examination and repeat imaging for a minimum of 6 h. All patients received both "early" and "delayed" repeat CXRs with no patient discharged before full assessment. RESULTS: One of the 88 patients with initially normal chest x-ray underwent tube thoracostomy at the discretion of the attending surgeon before any repeat imaging. Of the remaining patients, 4 of 87 (4.6 %) demonstrated radiographic abnormalities on "early" repeat imaging. Two patients had pneumothoraces, successfully managed without intervention; the remaining two demonstrated evidence of hemothorax, subsequently undergoing tube thoracostomy. Two more patients (2.3 %) developed pneumothoraces on "delayed" imaging, both successfully observed without intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In asymptomatic patients with penetrating thoracic trauma and normal initial chest radiographs, "early" repeat chest x-ray, at intervals approaching 1 h, appears sufficient to exclude clinically significant pathology and to allow safe patient discharge.

Appendicitis: changing perspectives.

Neoplasms are an uncommon finding after appendectomy, with malignant tumors occurring in less than 1% of the surgical specimens, and carcinoid being the most frequent malignancy. A negative or inconclusive ultrasound is not adequate to rule out appendicitis and should be followed by CT scan. For pregnant patients, MRI is a reasonable alternative to CT scan. Nonoperative treatment with antibiotics is safe as an initial treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis, with a significant decrease in complications but a high failure rate. Open and laparoscopic appendectomies for appendicitis provide similar results overall, although the laparoscopic technique may be advantageous for obese and elderly patients but may be associated with a higher incidence of intraabdominal abscess. Preoperative diagnostic accuracy is of utmost importance during pregnancy because a negative appendectomy is associated with a significant incidence of fetal loss. The increased morbidity associated with appendectomy delay suggests that prompt surgical intervention remains the safest approach. Routine incidental appendectomy should not be performed except in selected cases. Interval appendectomy is not indicated because of considerable risks of complications and lack of any clinical benefit. Patients older than 40 years with an appendiceal mass or abscess treated nonoperatively should routinely have a colonoscopy as part of their follow-up to rule out cancer or alternative diagnosis.

Is Chest X-Ray a Reliable Screening Tool for Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury? Results from the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma/Aortic Trauma Foundation Prospective Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury Registry.

BACKGROUND: Traditional teaching continues to espouse the value of initial trauma chest x-ray (CXR) as a screening tool for blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI). The ability of this modality to yield findings that reliably correlate with grade of injury and need for subsequent treatment, however, requires additional multicenter prospective examination. We hypothesized that CXR is not a reliable screening tool, even at the highest grades of BTAI. STUDY DESIGN: The Aortic Trauma Foundation/American Association for the Surgery of Trauma prospective BTAI registry was used to correlate initial CXR findings to the Society for Vascular Surgery injury grade identified with computed tomographic angiography. RESULTS: We analyzed 708 confirmed BTAI injuries with recorded CXR findings and subsequent computed tomographic angiography injury characterization from February 2015 to August 2021. The presence of any of the classic CXR findings was observed in only 57.6% (408 of 708) of injuries, with increasing presence correlating with advanced Society for Vascular Surgery BTAI grade (39.1% [75 of 192] of grade 1; 55.6% [50 of 90] of grade 2; 65.2% [227 of 348] of grade 3; and 71.8% [56 of 78] of grade 4). The most consistent single finding identified was widened mediastinum, but this was only present in 27.7% of all confirmed BTAIs and only 47.4% of G4 injuries (7.8%% of grade 1, 23.3%, of grade 2, 35.3% of grade 3, and 47.4% of grade 4). CONCLUSIONS: CXR is not a reliable screening tool for the detection of BTAI, even at the highest grades of injury. Further investigations of specific high-risk criteria for screening that incorporate imaging, mechanism, and physiologic findings are warranted.

Rule of four: an anatomic and value-based approach to stent-graft inventory for blunt thoracic aortic injury.

PURPOSE: As blunt thoracic aortic injury (BTAI) treatment has shifted from open to thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), logistical challenges exist in creating and maintaining inventories of appropriately sized stent-grafts, including storage demands, shelf-life management and cost. We hypothesized that most injured aortas can be successfully repaired with a narrow range of stent-graft sizes and present a value-based anatomic approach to optimizing inventory. METHODS: CT-scans of all patients with BTAI admitted to our Level I trauma center from Apr 2010-Dec 2018 were reviewed. Patients with anatomy incompatible with TEVAR were excluded. For each patient, after aortic sizing a set of two stent-grafts most likely to be utilized was selected from a list of twenty commercially available GORE conformable TAG endografts based on manufacturer instructions. Stent-graft sizes were then ranked based on the number of cases they would be suitable for. MATLAB was utilized to determine the combinations of stent-grafts which would cover the most patients. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients with BTAI were identified and three were excluded based on iliac diameter. Most patients were male (68%), mean age 42.3 ± 20.2 years, mean ISS 37.0 ± 9.8. Overall mortality was 25%. Of the 20 available stent-graft options, a combination of four stent-grafts would successfully treat 100% of the patients in this series. CONCLUSIONS: Based on actual CT-scan aortic measurements, we demonstrated that an inventory of four sent-graft sizes was sufficient to treat 100% of patients with BTAI. These data can be utilized as a value-based anatomic approach to aortic stent-graft institutional inventory creation and maintenance.