Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Utilizing Livers From Donors Older Than 65: A Single Center Experience, Krishnaraj Mahendraraj, Jorge H. Castro, Sean Devitt, Chad Gorn, Cataldo Doria, Adam Frank, Warren Maley, Carlo G. Ramirez

Adam M. Franks, MD

Conclusions:

Use of liver grafts from older donors presents similar survival outcomes as grafts from younger donor age. Therefore, it offers a viable option to expand the donor pool and increase number of OLTs.

However, there is higher incidence of retransplantation due to primary graft non-function, and longer hospital length of stay observed in the older donor age group.

Further studies using larger patient populations are needed to validate our results.

Saving Life And Brain With Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: A Single-Center Analysis Of In-Hospital Cardiac Arrests., Graham Peigh, Nicholas C. Cavarocchi, Hitoshi Hirose

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVE: Despite advances in medical care, survival to discharge and full neurologic recovery after cardiac arrest remains less than 20% after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An alternate approach to traditional cardiopulmonary resuscitation is extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation, which places patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation and provides immediate cardiopulmonary support when traditional resuscitation has been unsuccessful. We report the results from extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation at the Thomas Jefferson University.

METHODS: Between 2010 and June 2014, 107 adult extracorporeal membrane oxygenation procedures were performed at the Thomas Jefferson University. Patient demographics, survival to discharge, and neurologic recovery of patients who underwent extracorporeal …

Simple New Risk Score Model For Adult Cardiac Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Simple Cardiac Ecmo Score., Graham Peigh, Nicholas Cavarocchi, Scott W. Keith, Hitoshi Hirose

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Although the use of cardiac extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasing in adult patients, the field lacks understanding of associated risk factors. While standard intensive care unit risk scores such as SAPS II (simplified acute physiology score II), SOFA (sequential organ failure assessment), and APACHE II (acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II), or disease-specific scores such as MELD (model for end-stage liver disease) and RIFLE (kidney risk, injury, failure, loss of function, ESRD) exist, they may not apply to adult cardiac ECMO patients as their risk factors differ from variables used in these scores.

METHODS: Between 2010 and …

Complications From Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia In Patients Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass., Raymond Singer, J D Mannion, T L Bauer, F R Armenti, R N Edie

Raymond L Singer MD

The purpose of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the incidence and severity of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)-related complications in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. We reviewed the records of 1,500 consecutive patients who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass between August 1987 and December 1991 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. During this period of time, there were 1,155 coronary artery bypass graft operations (77 percent); 225 valve replacements and repairs, or both (15 percent); 60 combination coronary artery bypass graft or valve operations, or both (4 percent); and 60 miscellaneous procedures (4 percent). Although not all patients with postoperative complications were tested for the …

Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation Mimics Aortic Dissection On Cat Scan., Philip Batista, Nicholas C. Cavarocchi, Hitoshi Hirose

Nicholas C Cavarocchi MDJ

A 66 year-old female presented with refractory acute congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was placed via femoral cannulation for salvage and stabilized. CAT scan of the chest performed as a part of heart transplant work-up, demonstrated an unequal distribution of intravenous contrast in the aortic arch (Figure 1). Radiologist’s preliminary reading was of “aortic dissection” while in fact this is truly “normal ECMO flow”.

Comparison Of Sternal Pain And Narcotic Requirement After Cardiac Surgery Between New Rigid Closure And Conventional Wire Closure: Follow-Up Results Of 50 Randomizations., Jeevan Kuman, Bs, James T. Diehl, Md, Hitoshi Hirose, Md, Phd

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

To investigate if rigid closure reduces sternal pain.

Presented at Chest 2013.Chicago IL.October 26-31, 2013.

John Chalmers Dacosta (1863-1933): Restoration Of The Old Operating Table., Madalyn G. Peters, Md, Adam C. Berger, Md, Gordon Schwartz, Md, Mba, Facs, Charles J. Yeo, Md, Scott W. Cowan, Md

Department of Surgery Gibbon Society Historical Profiles

John Chalmers DaCosta was an influential chairman and the first Samuel D. Gross Professor of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. He was well known throughout the field as a skilled surgeon, passionate speaker, and exceptional writer. In addition to countless accomplishments during his career, DaCosta was deeply dedicated to the preservation and commemoration of surgical history. This ideology was exemplified when he set out on a mission to recover the old wooden operating table used by many of his iconic mentors including Samuel D. Gross, Joseph Pancoast, and William W. Keen. This table was originally used for surgical …

Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation Mimics Aortic Dissection On Cat Scan., Philip Batista, Nicholas C. Cavarocchi, Hitoshi Hirose

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

A 66 year-old female presented with refractory acute congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was placed via femoral cannulation for salvage and stabilized. CAT scan of the chest performed as a part of heart transplant work-up, demonstrated an unequal distribution of intravenous contrast in the aortic arch (Figure 1). Radiologist’s preliminary reading was of “aortic dissection” while in fact this is truly “normal ECMO flow”.

News In Brief

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Alejandro Perez, MD, has joined the Jefferson Vascular Center at Methodist Hospital with a dual faculty appointment in the Departments of Medicine and Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Perez completed his residency and fellowship training in vascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic. He specializes in deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

Ehyal Shweiki, MD, FACS, has joined the Division of Acute Care Surgery. Dr. Shweiki is fellowship-trained in both cardiothoracic surgery (University of Louisville) and surgical critical care (Washington University/Barnes Jewish Hospital). He also holds an MS in Bioethics. He will serve patients at our …

Lymph Node Ratio Is An Important And Independent Prognostic Factor For Patients With Stage Iii Melanoma., Adam C. Berger, Michael Fierro, John C Kairys, David Berd, Takami Sato, Jocelyn Andrel, Terry Hyslop, Michael J Mastrangelo

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of melanoma is dramatically increasing worldwide. We hypothesized that the ratio of metastatic to examined lymph node ratio (LNR) would be the most important prognostic factor for stage III patients.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our institutional database of melanoma patients and identified 168 patients who underwent lymph node dissection (LND) for stage III disease between 1993 and 2007. Patients were divided into three groups based on LNR (≤10%, n = 93; 10-≤25%, n = 45; and >25%, n = 30). Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed using Cox proportional hazards model.

RESULTS: The median survival time of …

Bapcap2-1 Does Preoperative Aspirin Improve Outcomes In Cardiac Surgery Patients?, Jian-Zhong Sun, L. Cao, H. Liu, W. Sun, S Silvestry, J. Diehl

Hua Kun Liu

Best Abstracts - Runner-up Session 2 presented at Euroanaesthesia 2011 in the Netherlands.

Background and Goal of Study: The effects of preoperative aspirin on major cardiocerebral and renal outcomes and mortality remain uncertain.

Download The Full Pdf Of Jefferson Surgical Solutions Fall 2011, Volume 6, Number 2

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Download the full PDF of Jefferson Surgical Solutions Fall 2011, Volume 6, Number 2.

Koniaris Heads Expanding Multi-Disciplinary Surgical Program At Methodist Hospital

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Leonidas Koniaris, MD, FACS, is the newly appointed Chief of Surgery at Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia, an affiliate of Jefferson that now has the strongest presence of full-time Jefferson faculty surgeons to date. One of the oldest hospitals in the Philadelphia region, Methodist has been treating patients continuously since 1892. Professor of Surgery and Vice Chair of the Department of Surgery at Jefferson Medical College, Dr. Koniaris is leading the effort to help what he describes as “an already great local hospital become an even more essential and integral partof this vibrant community.” Dr. Koniaris replaces Melvin Moses, MD, …

The Surgeon Speaks: Leonidas Koniaris, Md, Facs

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Leonidas Koniaris, MD, FACS Chief of Surgery, Methodist Hospital Vice Chair of Surgery, Jefferson Medical College

The professionalism and work ethic of the Methodist hospital staff are second-to none, and the dedication to superb patient care is a top priority. Over the next three to five years, our focus is to take this existing gem in the Jefferson brand and continue to develop it into a strong top-tier facility.

We have been fortunate to have the support of hospital leadership in meeting our goals and embracing change. Several initiatives – a new endovascular suite and multidisciplinary breast care clinic, coupled …

Overview

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

The academic year 2011/2012 is now four months old, and we are off to a splendid start! We (a) have welcomed several new faculty members and a bolus of categorical interns (see below), (b) had a leadership transition at our Methodist Hospital, (c) are in growth mode at Methodist with initiatives in General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Wound Care and Surgical Oncology (see the cover story), and (d) with the leadership of Dr. Nicholas Cavarocchi have seen remarkable growth in our adult ECMO program with outstanding clinical results and several research projects brought to fruition. Exciting times again this year at …

Surgeon-Led Ecmo Treatment Improves Survival Rates In Surgical Cardiac Care Unit

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

The Jefferson Surgical Cardiac Care Unit (SCCU), reorganized in July 2010, delivers the best survival rates in Pennsylvania for patients plagued by serious lung and/or heart dysfunction. Nicholas Cavarocchi, MD, FACS, FCCP, the SCCU Director and Associate Professor of Surgery, leads a highly trained team that uses extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (an ECMO machine) to provide respiratory and cardiac support to patients whose lungs and/or hearts cannot function on their own. Because of the excellent outcomes – 70 to 80 percent survival rates for patients with life-threatening situations, up from a previous zero-based survival rate – Dr. Cavarocchi believes the Jefferson …

Meet Our Surgical Interns

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

We have welcomed an amazing new group of categorical interns, selected from over one thousand applicants to our program. These doctors, who recently matched with Jefferson Medical College (JMC), started on June 20, 2011. Just a few months into their Jefferson surgical residency, we have all noticed their dedication to patient care, their energy and their excitement in joining the Jefferson community.

Meet Our Surgical Interns

Please welcome (from left to right):

• Christine Feldmeier, MD, JMC
• James Crawford, MD, New York University
• Kate Holoyda, MD, University of Wisconsin
• Vishen Sooppan, MD, SUNY Upstate - Syracuse
• Caitlyn Johnson, MD, JMC
• Jonathan …

National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry (NTPR). Established at Jefferson, this unique registry is a voluntary study, in which transplant recipients (both men and women) report their experiences with conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and the health of the recipient. The NTPR was founded by Principal Investigator Vincent Armenti, MD, PhD, a Jefferson alumnus and former transplant fellow with a dual faculty appointment as Professor in the Department of Surgery (Transplantation Division) and the Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology.

Dr. Armenti’s interest was sparked two decades ago when a transplant recipient told him she …

On The Job: Dr. Karen Chojnacki, Residency Program Director

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Karen Chojnacki, MD, FACS, who has directed the General Surgery Residency Program for the past three years, was a resident at Jefferson from 1995 to 2000 – and loved it. Following a fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the University of Southern California and a brief stint in private practice, she returned to Jefferson in early 2002, jumping at the chance to capture her “dream job” and buoyed by memories of the institution’s camaraderie and professionalism. “Whoever said ‘You can’t go home again’ didn’t have a home like Jefferson,” she says. “I lead the program that helped make me the …

Alumni Support Jefferson Through Service And Giving

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

On Wednesday, June 29th, the Department of Surgery hosted a reception to recognize Melvin Moses, MD, FACS, for his contributions and many years of service. Dr. Moses graduated from Jefferson Medical College (JMC) in 1962 and remained at Jefferson for his residency training and three separate clinical and research fellowships. He joined the hospital surgical staff in 1970 and became a JMC faculty member in 1982.

In 1990, Dr. Moses was named the Vice Chairman of the Department of Surgery, Methodist Hospital Division of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital (TJUH), where he remained for the duration of his career- a career …

News In Brief

Jefferson Surgical Solutions

Gurjyot Bajwa, MD, has joined the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. She is fellowship-trained in Adult Cardiac Surgery, Congenital Cardiac Surgery and General Thoracic Surgery. She also trained in complex adult cardiac surgery and minimally invasive and robotic surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.

Patrick Greaney, MD, has joined the Division of Plastic Surgery. He completed his General Surgery residency at Jefferson in 2007, followed by a fellowship in burn reconstruction at the William Randolph Hearst Burn Center of the Weill Cornell / New York-Presbyterian Hospital, a plastic surgery residency and a fellowship in microsurgery. He will provide services at …

Growth Inhibition Of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells By Overexpression Of G Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2, Zhengyu Wei, Reginald Hurtt, Cataldo Doria

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Summary:

In this study, we investigated a novel approach for HCC treatment by inducing overexpression of GRK2 in human HCC cells. We found that overexpression of GRK2 through recombinant adenovirus transduction inhibits the growth of human HCC cells. BrdU incorporation assay showed that the growth inhibition caused by elevated GRK2 level was due tot he reduced cell proliferation but not apoptosis. To examine the anti-proliferative function of increased GRK2 level, we performed cell cycle analysis using propidium iodide staining. We found that the proliferation suppression was associated with G2/M phase cell cycle arrest by the wild type GRK2 but not …

Utilizing Livers From Donors Older Than 65: A Single Center Experience, Krishnaraj Mahendraraj, Jorge H. Castro, Sean Devitt, Chad Gorn, Cataldo Doria, Adam Frank, Warren Maley, Carlo G. Ramirez

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Conclusions:

Use of liver grafts from older donors presents similar survival outcomes as grafts from younger donor age. Therefore, it offers a viable option to expand the donor pool and increase number of OLTs.

However, there is higher incidence of retransplantation due to primary graft non-function, and longer hospital length of stay observed in the older donor age group.

Further studies using larger patient populations are needed to validate our results.

Bapcap2-1 Does Preoperative Aspirin Improve Outcomes In Cardiac Surgery Patients?, Jian-Zhong Sun, L. Cao, H. Liu, W. Sun, S Silvestry, J. Diehl

Department of Anesthesiology Faculty Papers

Best Abstracts - Runner-up Session 2 presented at Euroanaesthesia 2011 in the Netherlands.

Background and Goal of Study: The effects of preoperative aspirin on major cardiocerebral and renal outcomes and mortality remain uncertain.

Evaluation Of The Use Of Patient-Focused Simulation For Student Assessment In A Surgery Clerkship., Gerald A Isenberg, Katherine W Berg, Judith A Veloski, Dale D Berg, J J. Veloski, Charles Yeo

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of simulated patients in conjunction with anatomic and tissue task-training models to assess skills.

METHODS: Faculty reviewed the objectives of the clerkship to identify skills to be acquired. Three cases were developed related to rectal examination, suturing, and inserting intravenous lines and nasogastric tubes. Student scores were based on their ability to gather data from simulated patients and perform procedures on simulation models.

RESULTS: A total of 670 students were assessed between 2006 and 2009. Alpha reliability coefficients were .97 for Communication/Interpersonal Skills, .71 for Procedures, and .58 for …

Thomas Dent Mütter: The Humble Narrative Of A Surgeon, Teacher, And Curious Collector., Jennifer A. Baker, B.S., Charles J. Yeo, Md, Pinckney J. Maxwell, Iv, Md

Department of Surgery Gibbon Society Historical Profiles

Thomas Dent Mutter, a beloved teacher, respected colleague, devoted husband, surgical pioneer, and legendary collector, emerged from a tragic childhood as an ambitious young physician who would leave a permanent imprint on medical education (Fig. 1). Dr. Mutter is best known in the Philadelphia area for the museum of medical curiosities, which bears his name. Overflowing with various medical memorabilia, anatomical and pathological specimens, casts, models, watercolors, and historical instruments, the Mutter Museum often overshadows the numerous other contributions Dr. Mutter made during his shortened life.1 A quote from Henry Brooks Adams is quite apropos, ‘‘A teacher affects eternity; he …