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There is concern regarding the competency of today's general surgery graduates as a large proportion defer independent practice in favor of additional fellowship training. Little is known about the graduates who directly enter general surgery practice and if their operative experiences during residency differ from graduates who pursue fellowship.Nineteen Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited general surgery programs from the US Resident OPerative Experience Consortium were included. Demographics, career choice, and case logs from graduates between 2010 to 2020 were analyzed.There were 1,264 general surgery residents who graduated over the 11-year period. A total of 248 (19.6%) went directly into practice and 1,016 (80.4%) pursued fellowship. Graduates directly entering practice were more likely to be a high-volume resident (43.1% vs 30.5%, P.01) and graduate from a high-volume program (49.2% vs 33.0%, P.01). Direct-to-practice graduates performed 53 more cases compared with fellowship-bound graduates (1,203 vs 1,150, P.01). On multivariable analysis, entering directly into practice was positively associated with total surgeon chief case volume (odds ratio = 1.47, 95% confidence interval 1.18-1.84, P.01) and graduating from a US medical school (odds ratio = 2.54, 95% confidence interval 1.45-4.44, P.01) while negatively associated with completing a dedicated research experience (odds ratio = 0.31, 95% confidence interval 0.22-0.45, P.01).This is the first multi-institutional study exploring resident operative experience and career choice. These data suggest residents who desire immediate practice can tailor their experience with less research time and increased operative volume. These data may be helpful for programs when designing their experience for residents with different career goals.

Background: Multiple major health organisations recommend the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for COVID-19-related acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure. However, initial reports of ECMO use in patients with COVID-19 described very high mortality and there have been no large, international cohort studies of ECMO for COVID-19 reported to date. Methods: We used data from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry to characterise the epidemiology, hospital course, and outcomes of patients aged 16 years or older with confirmed COVID-19 who had ECMO support initiated between Jan 16 and May 1, 2020, at 213 hospitals in 36 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital death in a time-to-event analysis assessed at 90 days after ECMO initiation. We applied a multivariable Cox model to examine whether patient and hospital factors were associated with in-hospital mortality. Findings: Data for 1035 patients with COVID-19 who received ECMO support were included in this study. Of these, 67 (6%) remained hospitalised, 311 (30%) were discharged home or to an acute rehabilitation centre, 101 (10%) were discharged to a long-term acute care centre or unspecified location, 176 (17%) were discharged to another hospital, and 380 (37%) died. The estimated cumulative incidence of in-hospital mortality 90 days after the initiation of ECMO was 37·4% (95% CI 34·4–40·4). Mortality was 39% (380 of 968) in patients with a final disposition of death or hospital discharge. The use of ECMO for circulatory support was independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality (hazard ratio 1·89, 95% CI 1·20–2·97). In the subset of patients with COVID-19 receiving respiratory (venovenous) ECMO and characterised as having acute respiratory distress syndrome, the estimated cumulative incidence of in-hospital mortality 90 days after the initiation of ECMO was 38·0% (95% CI 34·6–41·5). Interpretation: In patients with COVID-19 who received ECMO, both estimated mortality 90 days after ECMO and mortality in those with a final disposition of death or discharge were less than 40%. These data from 213 hospitals worldwide provide a generalisable estimate of ECMO mortality in the setting of COVID-19. Funding: None.

Objectives Undertriage is common in patients 55 years and older and is even worse for those 65 and older. In 1999, the Florida legislature implemented a statewide trauma system, including a new Florida trauma triage algorithm (FTTA). This study examines how the new system affected prehospital triage in younger versus older patients. Methods A retrospective review of appropriate triage was conducted at a regional level 2 trauma center during a 1-year period. Patients were considered to have major trauma if they were FTTA positive or had an Injury Severity Score (ISS) of ≥ 16. An internal trauma review panel examined hospital discharge data to assess triage accuracy. Odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results A total of 49% of nontrauma patients 15 to 54 years old were seen at the trauma center compared with 83% of FTTA positive and 86% of patients with an ISS ≥ 16 (OR 2.88, 95% CI 2.44-3.41). For those with an ISS ≥ 16, the OR was 6.53 (95% CI 4.07-10.47). For patients 55 years and older, 52% of nontrauma patients were triaged to the trauma center versus 59% of FTTA positive and 64% of patients with ISS ≥ 16 (OR 1.03, 95% CI 0.93-1.15). Patients 55 years and older with an ISS ≥ 16 had only a slightly increased triage effect (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.08-2.58) compared with those with an ISS 0 to 15 (OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.89-1.12). Conclusions Whereas FTTA appropriately triaged patients 15 to 54 years old to the trauma center, those 55 years old and older were much less likely to be triaged correctly. The reasons for this finding remain unknown, and further studies are needed to investigate and improve elderly triage.

Background: The mortality risk in elderly patients who sustained head trauma resulting in intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) while taking the antiplatelet agents aspirin (ASA) or clopidogrel or both (Plavix) was evaluated. Methods: A retrospective review identified trauma patients, age 50 or greater, who had computed tomography (CT) evidence of ICH and were taking ASA, clopidogrel, or a combination of both. Patient demographics, type of medication, mechanism of injury, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS), grading of head CT scans, and outcomes were characterized. Results: One hundred nine patients including 61 men and 48 women were identified; the mean age was 77 years ± 10 years. Injury was due to level fall (73), fall from height (21), motor vehicle crash (11), and other (4). Twenty (18%) patients died; age, gender, type of medication, and mechanism of injury were not predictive of death. The initial GCS for survivors was 14.2 ± 1.9 versus 11.3 ± 4.9 for non-survivors (p < 0.007). Deaths based on initial CT grade were: grade 1, 5 of 70; grade 2, 4 of 17; grade 3, 5 of 10; grade 4, 6 of 12 (p = 0.002). Follow-up CT scans were performed in 81 patients who were not taken to surgery and had grade 1 or 2 hemorrhage initially. Of 4 patients with hemorrhage progression, there was 1 death (25%) versus 6 deaths in 77 patients without progression (8%; p = 0.70). Conclusions: There is high mortality rate associated with ASA or clopidogrel or both in elderly patients who have head trauma resulting in ICH. The presenting GCS and initial grade of CT scan are most predictive of death. Progression of hemorrhage after admission is unusual. The risk of brain injury, particularly from falls, should be explained to elderly patients taking these medications.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study is to describe practice patterns and outcomes of posttraumatic retrievable inferior vena caval filters (R-IVCF). METHODS A retrospective review of R-IVCFs placed during 2004 at 21 participating centers with follow up to July 1, 2005 was performed. Primary outcomes included major complications (migration, pulmonary embolism [PE], and symptomatic caval occlusion) and reasons for failure to retrieve. RESULTS Of 446 patients (69% male, 92% blunt trauma) receiving R-IVCFs, 76% for prophylactic indications and 79% were placed by interventional radiology. Excluding 33 deaths, 152 were Gunter-Tulip (G-T), 224 Recovery (R), and 37 Optease (Opt). Placement occurred 6 +/- 8 days after admission and retrieval at 50 +/- 61 days. Follow up after discharge (5.7 +/- 4.3 months) was reported in 51%. Only 22% of R-IVCFs were retrieved. Of 115 patients in whom retrieval was attempted, retrieval failed as a result of technical issues in 15 patients (10% of G-T, 14% of R, 27% of Opt) and because of significant residual thrombus within the filter in 10 patients (6% of G-T, 4% of R, 46% Opt). The primary reason R-IVCFs were not removed was because of loss to follow up (31%), which was sixfold higher (6% to 44%, p = 0.001) when the service placing the R-IVCF was not directly responsible for follow up. Complications did not correlate with mechanism, injury severity, service placing the R-IVCF, trauma volume, use of anticoagulation, age, or sex. Three cases of migration were recorded (all among R, 1.3%), two breakthrough PE (G-T 0.6% and R 0.4%) and six symptomatic caval occlusions (G-T 0, R 1%, Opt 11%) (p < 0.05 Opt versus both G-T and R). CONCLUSION Most R-IVCFs are not retrieved. The service placing the R-IVCF should be responsible for follow up. The Optease was associated with the greatest incidence of residual thrombus and symptomatic caval occlusion. The practice patterns of R-IVCF placement and retrieval should be re-examined.

Background: Preinjury warfarin anticoagulation has been shown to increase the mortality of traumatic intracranial hemorrhage. We have evaluated the impact on patient mortality of the rapid triage of patients at risk for warfarin associated traumatic intracranial hemorrhage. Methods: A “Coumadin Protocol” was implemented in January, 2001 in the Emergency Department that expedited triage of anticoagulated trauma patients to immediate physician evaluation. Patient outcomes during a 2 year period were compared with a matched control group of similarly injured, anticoagulated patients who were treated before protocol initiation. Results: Thirty-five patients were treated after implementation of the Coumadin Protocol. Mean time until warfarin reversal was 4.3 ± 4.4 hours, and there was a 37% mortality. Twenty-two control patients had a mean time to reversal of 4.2 ± 2.9 hours, with a 45% mortality (p = 0.610). Ten protocol patients were shown to have intracranial hemorrhage progression by computed tomography (CT) scan, with a 60% mortality rate. Seventeen patients had follow-up CT scan and showed no progression; only one of these patients (6%) died (p = 0.004). Hemorrhage severity based on the initial CT scan did not predict mortality or hemorrhagic progression. Conclusions: We conclude from these data that a trauma center protocol for rapid identification of intracranial bleeding without a concomitant therapeutic protocol does not improve survival in head injured patients on preinjury warfarin.

A prospective cohort study at our institution demonstrated a 48% mortality rate in warfarin anticoagulated trauma patients sustaining intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) compared with a 10% mortality rate in nonanticoagulated patients. Forty percent of patients demonstrated progression of their ICH, despite anticoagulation reversal, with a resultant 65% mortality rate. Seventy-one percent of these patients initially presented with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scoreor = 14 and a 'minor' ICH. We postulated that early diagnosis of ICH and rapid anticoagulation reversal would reduce ICH progression rates and mortality.All anticoagulated patients with known or suspected head trauma were entered into the Coumadin protocol. The protocol ensured immediate triage and physician evaluation, head computed tomography (CT) scan, and fresh frozen plasma administration in patients with documented ICH.Eighty-two patients were entered into the protocol with ICH documented in 19 (23%). Sixteen of 19 patients (84%) presented with GCSor = 14. Median international normalized ratio (INR) for treated patients with ICH was 2.7 versus 2.5 for patients without ICH (p = 0.546). Mean time to initiate warfarin reversal was 1.9 hours for protocol patients versus 4.3 hours for preprotocol patients (p0.001). Two of 19 (10%) protocol patients with ICH died. However, both patients presented10 hours after injury with a severe ICH. This 10% mortality rate is significantly less than the 48% mortality rate seen previously (p0.001) and is now consistent with that observed in similarly injured patients not on anticoagulation.Neither the initial GCS nor INR in anticoagulated trauma patients reliably identifies patients with ICH. Rapid confirmation of ICH with expedited head CT scan combined with prompt reversal of warfarin anticoagulation with fresh frozen plasma decreases ICH progression and reduces mortality.

Background As a first step toward the development of an artificial placenta, we investigated the relationship between blood flow rate through an arteriovenous (A-V) circuit/oxygenator and both CO 2 elimination and hemodynamic stability in a small animal model. Methods Male New Zealand rabbits (N = 10) with an average weight of 2.7 ± 0.2 kg were anesthetized, paralyzed, and heparinized before carotid-jugular cannulation. A tracheostomy tube, an arterial catheter, and an aortic flow probe were placed. Arteriovenous flow through a custom-made, low-resistance, 0.5 m 2 hollow fiber oxygenator was initiated. Oxygen sweep flow was maintained at 300 mL/min, whereas blood flow was controlled at 10 to 40 mL/(kg min). Ventilation was discontinued during each blood flow rate trial. Hemodynamic and preoxygenator and postoxygenator blood gas data were recorded 30 minutes after initiation of each flow rate. CO 2 removal was the product of the oxygen sweep gas flow rate and the sweep flow exhaust CO 2 content as determined by capnometry. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance with post hoc Dunnett's t test. Results CO 2 removal increased and Paco 2 decreased as a function of A-V blood flow rate. Simultaneously, systolic blood pressure did not significantly change. CO 2 removal was effective at device flows greater than 20% of cardiac output. Conclusion In this rabbit model, A-V blood flows at 25% to 30% of cardiac output allow full gas exchange without hemodynamic compromise. This model raises the possibility of using A-V support and an artificial placenta in newborns with respiratory failure.

Selective nonoperative management is appropriate for most blunt splenic injuries in adults and children, but the efficacy of this approach is unknown when injury occurs in patients with concurrent infectious mononucleosis. We have reviewed our experience during the past 23 years with the selective nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury in these patients. Medical record review identified nine patients with blunt splenic injury and infectious mononucleosis from 1978 to 2001, representing 3.3 per cent of our total trauma population with blunt splenic injury treated during that interval. Two patients underwent immediate splenectomy because of hemodynamic instability. Seven patients were admitted with the intent to treat nonoperatively. Five patients were successfully managed nonoperatively. Two patients failed nonoperative management and underwent splenectomy, one because of hemodynamic instability and one because of an infected splenic hematoma. Concurrent infectious mononucleosis does not preclude the successful nonoperative management of blunt splenic injury. This small subset of patients may be managed nonoperatively using the same criteria as for patients whose splenic injuries are not complicated by infectious mononucleosis.

Background We evaluated patients with spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage for reliable predictors of early diagnosis and improved outcomes. Methods A retrospective chart review was done to determine patient demographic and laboratory findings, presenting symptoms, time to diagnosis, anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet agent use, transfusions, and patient outcome. Results One hundred nineteen patients were identified; 14 (12%) died (mean age 77 ± 9 years vs. 74 ± 10 years for survivors [P = 0.235]). All nonsurvivors were on anticoagulants: 8 of 89 (9%) were on heparin or warfarin alone, and 6 of 23 (26% [P = 0.028]) were on a combined anticoagulant-antiplatelet regimen. Symptom onset to computed axial tomography (CAT) scan averaged 1.3 ± 1.3 days for nonsurvivors versus 1.5 ± 1.9 days for survivors (P = 0.778). Hemoglobin was 9.07 ± 3.35 for nonsurvivors versus 9.60 ± 2.07 for survivors (P = 0.435). Eighty-eight patients were transfused, and 10 died; 31 patients had no transfusion, and 4 of these died (P = 0.821). Conclusions A high index of clinical suspicion is necessary for diagnosis of spontaneous retroperitoneal hemorrhage because these patients present with a variety of symptoms. Prospective studies are necessary to determine whether earlier diagnosis combined with aggressive resuscitation can impact the high mortality rate seen in these patients.

Nutritional support is one of the many important considerations when treating severe burn injury in children. The type, route, timing, amount, and monitoring of nutritional support have been widely investigated, yet many questions remain. This review will highlight the current state of knowledge and the important aspects of nutritional support in severe burn injury in children.

A number of new techniques have been studied for managing newborns with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and respiratory insufficiency. Among these have been the techniques of delayed approach to the repair of the diaphragmatic hernia; permissive hypercapnia; nitric oxide and surfactant administration; intratracheal pulmonary ventilation; liquid ventilation; perfluorocarbon-induced lung growth; and lung transplantation. These interventions are at various stages of development and evaluation of effectiveness. All, however, are being explored in the hopes of improving outcome in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia who continue to have significant morbidity and mortality in the newborn period.