Surgery Commons^™

Can The Combination Of White Blood Cell Count And C-Reactive Protein Rule Out Pediatric Appendicitis, A Retrospective Analysis?, Scott Gutovitz, Samantha Stoner, Jarrett Koper, Sarah Kleist

HCA Healthcare Journal of Medicine

Background

Pediatric appendicitis (PA) is the most frequent cause of pediatric emergency surgery. Standard PA scoring systems incorporate inflammatory biomarkers (white blood cell count [WBC] or C-reactive protein [CRP]); however, the individual biomarker sensitivities have not been reported beyond single-center sites. We aimed to measure the individual and combined sensitivities of WBC and CRP to rule out PA in a large multicenter hospital system.

Methods

We did a retrospective study of pediatric emergency department patients (age <18) with abdominal pain, using a deidentified electronic health database from a 175-hospital system in the United States, comparing PA versus non-PA patients. Pediatric appendicitis patients were identified by ICD-10 diagnosis codes and had advanced imaging, whereas non-PA patients had advanced imaging and were discharged home with the ICD-10 code for abdominal pain. Using matched propensity matching, we calculated receiver operator characteristics and Youden’s index to find the optimal cutpoints. Sensitivity was calculated at the optimal and traditional cutpoints for each biomarker, also combined in parallel fashion.

Results

We identified 7414 subjects (3707 PA matched to 3707 controls). The WBC in PA patients was 14.99 ± 5.00 k/mm³ versus 9.63 …

Urinary Vitamin D Binding Protein And Kidney Injury Molecule-1 Are Potent Predictors Of Acute Kidney Injury After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation, Shiyi Li, Iván Murrieta-Álvarez, Katherine V Nordick, Zachary Gray, Camila Hochman-Mendez, Alexis E Shafii, Kenneth K Liao, Carl P Walther, Nandan K Mondal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background/Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and serious complication following left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. This study aimed to predict AKI within 90 days post-LVAD by evaluating urinary levels of vitamin D binding protein (VDBP) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 29 advanced heart failure patients undergoing LVAD implantation and categorized them into four groups based on pre-LVAD kidney function and hemodynamic stability. Early-morning urine samples were collected 24 h before and 1 week after surgery. Urinary VDBP and KIM-1 levels, normalized to creatinine, were measured.

Results: Thirteen patients developed AKI …

Impact Of Surgical Refusal On Overall Survival In Patients With Rectal Cancer, Vishal Abhimutt Mahesh, Anjali Yadav, Harsheen Kaur Manaise, Berkay Demirors, Paola Berrios Jiminez, Angel Aguayo-Merly, Jade C. Bowers, Bansi P. Savaliya, Reed Popp, Ramin Shekouhi, Guido Chiriboga, Syeda Hoorulain Ahmed, Fatima Mubarak, Esinam Ekpeh, Emmanuel Gabriel

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND/AIM: While surgery is a major component of treatment for managing rectal cancer, some individuals opt against it, potentially affecting their chances of survival. This study investigated the clinical and demographic elements linked to the decision to refuse surgery and assessed the potential impact of this decision on overall survival (OS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the U.S. National Cancer Database to analyze factors linked to surgery refusal in patients with rectal cancer. Clinical, demographic and treatment characteristics were compared using Pearson chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. RESULTS: Among the 115,066 patients with rectal cancer …

Bifurcated In-Stent In Situ Technique For Creation Of A Bifurcated Bridging Stent-Graft System To 2 Target Vessels Using A Single Directional Branch: A Report Of 2 Cases, Gustavo Paludetto, Lethicia Mesquita, Bruno Pagnin Schmid, Lucas Ruiter Kanamori, Dora Babocs, Thanila A Macedo, Gustavo S Oderich

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Objective: The objective of the study is to describe a novel bifurcated in-stent in situ technique (BIS2T) for creation of a bifurcated bridging stent-graft system to target 2 vessels using a single directional branch during complex endovascular aortic aneurysm.

Technique: The technique uses 3 balloon-expandable stent-grafts. The first supporting stent-graft is deployed from the directional branch into the first target vessel or aneurysm sac. A reentry catheter is used to create an in situ fenestration in the first stent-graft, which is predilatated with a 3 mm 0.014 inch angioplasty balloon. This is exchanged for a 0.035 inch 5 Fr catheter …

Assessment Of Long-Term Endocrine Sequelae Of Completion (2-Stage) Versus Total (Single-Stage) Pancreatectomy: A Multi-Institutional Research Network And Single-Institution Analysis, Michael Chang, Matthew Kraft, Zachary Kaplan, Harish Lavu, Charles Yeo, Wilbur Bowne, Avinoam Nevler

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: Total pancreatectomy can be associated with severe endocrine complications. This study compares endocrine outcomes of patients who underwent a single-stage total pancreatectomy versus a 2-stage completion pancreatectomy.

METHODS: We used data from a multi-institutional research network (TriNetX), which identified 1,079 propensity score-matched total pancreatectomy and completion pancreatectomy patient pairs for age, gender, and race. These data were validated by a single-center review of a prospectively maintained database of 1,600 pancreatectomies, from which 88 completion and total pancreatectomy patients treated between 2013 and 2023 were identified. The primary endpoints were postoperative rates of hypoglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis during the first …

Analysis Of Physician-Modified Endograft Utilization Using Online Databases And Social Media, Robert Tatum, Michael Nooromid, Paul Dimuzio, Babak Abai

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Background: To characterize the present landscape of physician-modified endograft (PMEG) use and the impact of an institution's investigational device exemption (IDE) status on endograft use by analyzing publication trends and social media coverage.

Methods: We used the social media platform X and three online bibliographic databases to perform a keyword search using the following terms: PMEG, physician-modified endograft, and laser fenestration. Data extracted from X and online articles included authorship, IDE protocol status, pertinent clinical outcome measures, and others. An internet search was performed to determine which institutions offered revascularization with a custom-made device within an IDE protocol and which …

Failure To Rescue After Surgery For Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review And Narrative Synthesis Of Risk Factors And Safety Strategies, Masashi Uramatsu, Yoshikazu Fujisawa, Paul Barach, Hiroaki Osakabe, Moe Matsumoto, Yuichi Nagakawa

College of Population Health Faculty Papers

Background: Failure to rescue (FTR), defined as death after major postoperative complications, is a critical quality indicator in pancreatic cancer surgery. Despite advances in surgical techniques and perioperative care, FTR rates remain high and vary across institutions. Methods: This systematic review uses a narrative synthesis followed by PRISMA 2020. A PubMed search (1992-2025) identified 83 studies; after screening, 52 studies (2010-2025) were included. Eligible designs were registry-based, multicenter, single-center, or prospective audits. Given substantial heterogeneity in study designs, FTR definitions, and outcome measures, a narrative synthesis was performed; no formal risk-of-bias assessment or meta-analysis was conducted. Results: …

Infective Endocarditis And Meningitis In A Healthy Newborn Without Underlying Heart Disease, Due To Streptococcus Agalactiae - A Case Report., Dalal Siddig Idris, Muath Mohammed Al Ghamdi, Maria Laura Bellovalls, Mohammed Fararjeh

Journal of the Saudi Heart Association

Streptococcus Agalactiae endocarditis is a rare clinical entity in newborns with a normal structured heart. It is generally characterized by acute onset, the presence of large vegetations, rapid valvular destruction and frequent complications, particularly embolization. Mortality is high with medical therapy alone. We are reporting a rare case of infective endocarditis (IE) with mitral valve vegetation in a 9-day old healthy newborn following Streptococcus Agalactiae sepsis, complicated by meningitis and micro-abscesses. Mitral valve (MV) vegetation was removed surgically; the patient received intravenous antibiotics for six weeks. Transthoracic echocardiography after surgery showed severe MV regurgitation and severe pulmonary hypertension which was …

A Supplement, Not A Substitute: Accuracy And Completeness Of Chatgpt Responses For Common Elbow Pathology, Benjamin Fiedler, Umar Ghilzai, Abdullah Ghali, Phillip Goldman, Pablo Coello, Michael B Gottschalk, Eric R Wagner, Adil Shahzad Ahmed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Hypothesis: Large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT have increasingly been used as online resources for patients with orthopedic conditions. Yet there is a paucity of information assessing the ability of LLMs to accurately and completely answer patient questions. The present study comparatively assessed both ChatGPT 3.5 and GPT-4 responses to frequently asked questions on common elbow pathologies, scoring for accuracy and completeness. It was hypothesized that ChatGPT 3.5 and GPT-4 would demonstrate high levels of accuracy for the specific query asked, but some responses would lack completeness, and GPT-4 would yield more accurate and complete responses than ChatGPT 3.5.

Methods: …

Robotic Ureteral Reconstruction For Endometriosis-Induced Strictures: Insights From A Multi-Institutional Experience, Matthew Lee, Sonam Saxena, Kelley Zhao, Cameron Dodd, Randall Lee, Michael Stifelman, Lee Zhao, Daniel D. Eun

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

PURPOSE: To investigate outcomes of robotic ureteral reconstruction (RUR) in female patients with ureteral strictures caused by peri-ureteral endometriosis lesions.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our multi-institutional Collaborative of Reconstructive Robotic Ureteral Surgery (CORRUS) database to identify all consecutive patients undergoing RUR for surgical management of endometriosis-induced ureteral strictures between 2017 and 2022. Indications for surgery included female patients with radiographic evidence of ureteral strictures and/or decreasing renal function on renal scan. We performed a descriptives analysis of perioperative outcomes in patients who met inclusion criteria. Surgical success was defined as freedom from additional interventions for recurrent ureteral stenosis.

RESULTS: Overall, …

Male Hypogonadism: Recommendations From The Fifth International Consultation On Sexual Medicine (Icsm 2024), Mohit Khera, Luiz Otavio Torres, Ethan D Grober, Abraham Morgentaler, Martin Miner, Thomas Hugh Jones, Jesse N Mills, Andrea Salonia

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Male hypogonadism is a clinical condition combining low circulating testosterone (T) and specific signs and symptoms associated with impaired hormone production.

Objectives: To provide the 5th International Consultation for Sexual Medicine consensus paper with recommendations concerning management strategies for hypogonadism.

Outcomes: A narrative review combined with expert opinions on major topics concerning diagnosis of male hypogonadism; treatment options; T impact toward cardiovascular, metabolic, sexual, and reproductive health; and prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: A consensus panel was held with leading Sexual Medicine experts during the 5th ICSM. Relevant English-language peer-reviewed literature was reviewed with a focus on research from but …

Erector Spinae Plane Block For Preserving Pulmonary Function In Patients With Traumatic Rib Fractures, Dakoda Farrington

Lynchburg Journal of Medical Science

Rib fractures are frequently seen in trauma patients and are associated with increased mortality, primarily due to pulmonary complications. This study investigates the efficacy of erector spinae plane block (ESPB) in preserving pulmonary function in patients with traumatic rib fractures. A search was conducted in PubMed using the terms "erector spinae plane" AND ("rib fracture" OR "rib fractures") AND trauma. The results were filtered to include studies within the past five years, available full-text articles, and relevancy to this research question. Ultimately, five studies were isolated and included in this review. The methodology for measuring pulmonary function varied between the …

Engaging And Empowering Future Female Surgeons: Development Of The Medical Student Section Of The Society Of Women In Urology, Allison G. Booher, Sasha Vereecken, Erin Kim, Neharika Penmetcha, Alexandra Aponte, Eman N. Chaudhri, Meghana Noonavath, Ibukunoluwa Omole, Joanna Orzel, Leigh Martin

School of Medicine Publications

Objective: To describe a replicable model for a large-scale, cross-institutional, and student-driven initiative to promote gender equity within surgical fields.

Methods: To address the lack of a national infrastructure to support female medical students pursuing careers in Urology, a historically male-dominated specialty, the society of women in urology (SWIU) established its medical student section, called SWIUdents, as a student-led initiative to offer mentorship, education, and networking resources for future female urologists. In 2022, SWIUdents convened its first medical student leadership board, comprised of two co-chairs and four subcommittees focused on membership, program implementation, mentorship, and community relations. SWIUdents membership was …

Epidemiology Of Lower Extremity Amputations In The United States: An Analysis Of The Global Burden Of Disease Database From 1990 To 2019., Peter B Spencer, Cameron J Sabet, Gabrielle Dykhouse, Taylor J Manes, Phillip C Mckegg, Ambrose Loc T Ngo, Ayah Ibrahim, Jack Weick

Surgery Articles

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) are medically, psychologically, and functionally devastating. The objective of our study was to evaluate region- and sex-specific differences of unilateral and bilateral LEAs across the United States (US) from 1990 to 2019.

METHODS: The Global Burden of Disease database was used to analyze years lived with disability (YLDs), prevalence, and incidence rates per 100,000 people for LEAs in the US from 1990 to 2019. Data were stratified into four US Census Bureau-defined regions: Northeast, Midwest, South, and West. Differences between regions and sexes were assessed, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05.

RESULTS: From 1990 to …

Correction: Ron Signalling Promotes Therapeutic Resistance In Esr1 Mutant Breast Cancer, Derek Dustin, Guowei Gu, Amanda R Beyer, Sarah K Herzog, David G Edwards, Hangqing Lin, Thomas L Gonzalez, Sandra L Grimm, Cristian Coarfa, Doug W Chan, Beom-Jun Kim, Jean-Paul De La O, Matthew J Ellis, Dan Liu, Shunqiang Li, Alana L Welm, Suzanne A W Fuqua

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Vascular Video Ipsilateral Hybrid Repair Of A Combined Type Ib And Iii Endoleak After Fenestrated-Branched Endograft And Bilateral Iliac Branch Endoprosthesis, Nolan C Cirillo-Penn, Thomas C Bower, Gustavo S Oderich, Bernardo C Mendes

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

No abstract provided.

Prostaglandin E2 As A Mechanistic Biomarker Of Chronic Pancreatitis, Jami L Saloman, Bahiyyah Jefferson, Samuel Han, William E Fisher, Evan L Fogel, Phil A Hart, Liang Li, Walter G Park, Santhi Swaroop Vege, Dhiraj Yadav, Mark D Topazian, Darwin L Conwell

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Introduction: Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is a disease associated with chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and pain. There is a lack of tools available that facilitate early diagnosis, when intervention could prevent irreversible damage. Pilot data suggested prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) as a candidate biomarker for early CP. PGE2 activates signaling pathways that promote inflammation, pain, and fibrosis.

Methods: We assessed PGE2, metabolites, and downstream targets in pancreatic fluid collected endoscopically 0-10 (n = 110) and 10-20 (n = 111) minutes after intravenous secretin administration. PGE2 and metabolites were measured in plasma (n = 75) and urine (n = 71) from the same subjects. …

Patient-Defined Outcomes In Adults With Hip Dysplasia: What Activities Do Patients Hope To Improve With Treatment?, John Gaddis, Martin Salgado-Flores, Seunghoon Lee, Syed Ghazi, Hunter M. Butler, Edward P. Mulligan, Charles South, Joel Wells

School of Medicine Publications

Introduction: Patient-reported outcome measures have widely been used in the field of orthopaedics to determine treatment outcomes; however, they may not always align with the patient's goals for improvement following treatment. Therefore, we introduced the concept of patient-defined outcomes (PDOs): pretreatment goals or activities patients wish to improve following treatment, along with the patient-perceived difficulty and importance of these activities. This study aimed to evaluate PDOs in adults with hip dysplasia across 3 age groups while assessing patient variables for potential associations with choosing specific categories of activities.

Methods: We analyzed PDOs in 180 adults diagnosed with hip dysplasia, stratified …

Perioperative Antibiotic Administration Review: An Analysis Of Outpatient Surgeries At Ohiohealth Doctors Hospital., Rayyan Bhutta, Thomas Shneker, Samantha Currier, Alexander Caskey, Vincent Relli-Dempsey, Matthias Franzen, Samir Patel

Surgery Articles

INTRODUCTION: A vital part of preventing surgical site infections (SSIs) is perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Antibiotics must be administered within a certain window of time, usually 15 to 60 minutes prior to the surgical incision, for them to be effective. The most frequently utilized medication, cefazolin, can be administered quickly by intravenous push (IVP), but other medications, such as vancomycin and clindamycin, need longer infusion times. Antibiotic efficacy declines, and the risk of SSIs is increased when scheduling requirements are not followed. With special focus on time, dosage, and variation by surgery type, this study evaluates adherence to perioperative antibiotic administration …

Ketorolac Use Following Operative Clavicle Fracture Fixation Is Not Associated With Increased Nonunion Or Surgical Complications: A Propensity-Matched Analysis, Tuckerman Jones, Tej Joshi, Akhil Katakam, Daniella Ogilvie, Sefy Paulose, Balazs Galdi

Wills Eye Hospital Papers

OBJECTIVES: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ketorolac, are commonly used for postoperative pain management. Concerns about their potential impact on bone healing have been raised. This study investigated the relationship between ketorolac use and postoperative complications following clavicle surgery, including nonunion rates.

METHODS: This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX Research Database to identify patients who underwent surgical fixation of clavicle fractures between 2002 and 2022. Two propensity-matched cohorts were created: patients who received postoperative ketorolac and those who did not. Primary outcomes included nonunion diagnosis and revision surgery; secondary outcomes included opioid use, wound disruption, surgical site infection, and …