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Biliary sludge is a subjective, ill-defined term. Surgery is often consulted for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, regarded as a low risk procedure. After IRB approval, a word search was used to identify “sludge” in all ultrasounds performed in 2016. The number of patients undergoing cholecystectomy, complications, pathologic findings, and risk factors were identified. Non-operative patients were evaluated for subsequent symptoms and studies or procedures related to biliary pathology. 2769 patients underwent RUQ US; 253 patients were found to have sludge. Of 48 (19%) cholecystectomy patients, 9 had cholelithiasis. No deaths occurred in the cholecystectomy group. Two surgical complications occurred. Fifty (24.4%) of the 205 non-operative patients underwent subsequent US imaging: 44% residual sludge, 28% normal, 18% stones, and 10% other. Sludge may resolve 28% of the time. Repeat ultrasound is prudent before proceeding with cholecystectomy. If an abnormality is seen on repeat imaging and risk factors persist, cholecystectomy may be reasonable.

Trauma in pregnancy is a leading cause of poor fetal and obstetric outcomes. Trauma team activation (TTA) criteria include injury with ≥ 20 weeks gestational age (GA). A retrospective analysis was performed on pregnant patients evaluated at a Level 1 trauma center. Patients were characterized by TTA: full, partial, or non-TTA, and TTA criteria independent of pregnancy. Index trauma and delayed delivery hospitalization outcomes were examined. Bivariate analysis, t test, and logistic regression were used when appropriate. From 2010 to 2015, 216 full, 50 partial, and 50 non-TTAs presented. Independent of pregnancy, 79 per cent of patients did not meet the TTA criteria. Fourteen (4%) had a pregnancy-related complication during index hospitalization (eight fetal and two maternal deaths). Nine of ten deaths occurred in patients meeting TTA independent of pregnancy. Delivery complications were greater in the index (52%, 13/25) versus subsequent (5%, 17/155) hospitalizations and were predicted by the respiratory rate ( P = 0.016) and injury severity score ( P < 0.001). Poor delayed delivery outcomes were associated with earlier GA ( P < 0.002) and longer index hospitalization ( P < 0.024). Odds of complication are higher in patients meeting the physiologic and anatomic criteria criteria for TTA versus GA criteria alone, signifying overtriage. Trauma activation protocols should be adapted based on the physiologic and anatomic criteria criteria in pregnant patients.

Background Outcomes of complex pancreatic procedures have been used as an index for quality, and higher volume has been associated with improved outcomes, leading to advocacy for referral to those centers. The aim of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) at a low-volume referral center. Materials and Methods This retrospective study included patients who had a PD within a 7-year period. Operative performance parameters and outcomes were examined. Results Overall, there were 47 pancreatic resections, of which 38 met the inclusion criteria and were used for analyses. The overall median for blood loss, packed red blood cells units transfused, and postoperative days in hospital was as follows, respectively: 675 mL (interquartile range [IQR] = 500-900), 0 units (IQR = 0-2), 12 days (IQR = 9-18). Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and complications align with the literature. The 30-day in-hospital mortality rate was 5%. Survival probability for those with pancreatic adenocarcinoma at 1 year was 52% and 7% for years 2 and 3. Discussion As cases increased, significant improvement was noted in process outcomes including blood loss, blood transfusion rates, and length of stay (LOS). Survival was comparable to that in the literature, with limitation of not being adjusted for adjuvant therapy. Outcomes of complex pancreatic procedures, like PD, at a low-volume center with commitment and adequate support systems, can match those at high-volume centers.

Flail chest is used as one of the indicators for rib fixation, which is being performed more frequently. Radiologic and clinical flail chest are not clearly differentiated in published studies and the relationship between radiologic flail chest (RFC) and outcomes are not clearly established. Our study was designed to evaluate the relationship of RFC to outcomes in patients with severe blunt chest injury. Adult patients with severe blunt chest injury admitted between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2016, were identified retrospectively. Three hundred and eighty-three patients were studied and mortality rate was not significantly different in patients with an RFC diagnosis (5.88%) compared with patients without RFC (3.83%), P = 0.50. Length of stay (LOS) in patients with and without RFC were compared and patients with RFC were found to have a statistically significant increase in both hospital and intensive care unit LOS (P = 0.0178, P < 0.0017). Multivariate analysis confirmed RFC as an independent predictor of increased LOS when compared with the number of rib fractures and displacements. Our study suggests that RFC may drive inappropriate use of rib fixation. This questions the justification of liberal rib fixation based on the perceived high mortality rate of modern flail chest diagnoses.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of prehospital antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant (APAC) use on treatment and outcomes in patients with severe blunt chest injury. Patients with three or more rib fractures and a hospital length of stay (LOS) > three days admitted from 2014 to 2015 were included. Demographics, mortality, complications, injuries, hospital and ICU LOS, use of blood products, and thoracostomy were studied. Of 383 patients, 27.4 per cent were on APAC medication. Patients on APAC were older ( P < 0.0001), had higher Glasgow Coma Score ( P < 0.0001), and had lower Injury Severity Score ( P < 0.0001) and total number of fractures ( P = 0.0013) than the non-APAC group. APAC was not a predictor of mortality with or without age adjustment. In multiple linear regressions, APAC did not predict an increased LOS. APAC patients did not demonstrate an increase in admission diagnosis or complication of hemothorax, blood transfusions, tube thoracostomy, tracheostomy, LOS, or mortality rates. Similar findings are present in the subgroup of patients studied with high kinetic energy mechanism of injury. Our study does not support the perceived morbidity of APAC therapy in patients with severe blunt chest injury.