Limited day-to-day variation in the canine gut microbiota: implications for microbiome studies.

The gut microbiome is vital for health and affects gastrointestinal, systemic, and neurological functions. In dogs, fecal samples provide an effective mechanism to assess the gut microbiota as they are non-invasive, easily obtained, and representative of the gut microbiome. However, traditional methods usually require sampling across three consecutive days per time point to minimize the presumed variation in the gut microbiome.

Reducing Air Leak After Empyema Surgery: COPD's Role and Patient Management.

Introduction: Despite medical advancements, the rise in pleural empyemas persists in the United States. Surgical decortication for pleural empyema subjects patients to the potential complication of a prolonged air leak (PAL). This study aims to uncover the incidence, predictors, and outcomes of PAL following surgical decortication for pleural empyemas within a single tertiary institution.

Corrigendum: Oral swabs as a proxy for direct ruminal microbiome sampling in Holstein dairy cows is correlated with sample color.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.

More isn't always better: antibiotic duration after surgical decortication in pleural empyema.

Background: While ample high-level evidence supports the limited use of antibiotics post-source control in intraabdominal infections, there is a paucity of available data in guiding antibiotic duration for intrathoracic infections. This study aims to analyze patient outcomes among those who have undergone surgical decortication for parapneumonic pleural empyema, comparing cases managed with infectious disease (ID) specialists against those without, and to identify predictive factors influencing antibiotic duration post-source control. We hypothesized that antibiotic duration would vary depending on the involvement of ID specialists.

Disparities in postoperative outcomes among diverse patient groups with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) represents a significant burden in the United States. We aim to evaluate disparities in postoperative outcomes among diverse patients undergoing surgery for IBD.

Methods: The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) (2016-2018) was used to calculate national estimates for a number of postoperative complications in patients with IBD.

Race and Ethnicity Impacts Overall Survival of Patients with Appendiceal Cancer Who Undergo Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

Appendiceal cancer treatment may include cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). We investigated whether patient race/ethnicity influences outcomes and overall survival for patients with appendiceal cancer who undergo CRS/HIPEC. We queried the National Cancer Database for adult patients with appendiceal cancer treated with CRS/HIPEC from 2006 to 2018.

Early surgical stabilization of rib fractures for flail chest is associated with improved patient outcomes: An ACS-TQIP review.

Background: Rib fractures are a common in thoracic trauma. Increasingly, patients with flail chest are being treated with surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF). We performed a retrospective review of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program database to determine if there was a difference in outcomes between patients undergoing early SSRF (≤3 days) versus late SSRF (>3 days).

Socioeconomic Disparities in Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Background: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) is often used for patients with early-stage breast cancer. Disparities in the use of NCT based on clinical, demographic, and socioeconomic factors have not been evaluated.

Methods: Data from the National Cancer Database was analyzed for patients with T1-2, N0-1 breast cancer from 2006 to 2015.

The Impact of Preoperative Breast Volume on Development of Mastectomy Skin Flap Necrosis in Immediate Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Mastectomy skin flap necrosis (MSFN) can significantly impact outcome after immediate breast reconstruction. Several techniques exist to predict MSFN, but these may require additional testing and information, and they are often not available before surgery. We aim to identify whether breast volume, as calculated from preoperative mammography, can be used as a preoperative predictor of MSFN.

Developing Sustainable Prehospital Pediatric Care in Rwanda.

Objective: Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death in children older than 1 year and disproportionately affects pediatric patients in low- and middle-income countries.Improved prehospital care capacity has demonstrated the ability to improve care and save lives. Our collaboration developed and implemented a sustainable prehospital emergency pediatrics care course (EPCC) for Service d'Aide Medicale Urgente, the public emergency medical service in Rwanda.

Early video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for non-emergent thoracic trauma remains underutilized in trauma accredited centers despite evidence of improved patient outcomes.

Purpose: Thoracic injury is a major contributor to morbidity in trauma patients. There is limited data regarding practice patterns of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) across trauma-accredited hospitals in the United States. We hypothesized that early VATS remains underutilized affecting patient outcomes.

Perioperative outcomes of inpatient laparoscopic Heller myotomy and per-oral endoscopic myotomy in the United States.

Background: Per-oral endoscopic myotomy is an alternative to pneumatic dilation and laparoscopic Heller myotomy to treat lower esophageal sphincter diseases. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy and per-oral endoscopic myotomy perioperative outcomes data come from relatively small retrospective series and 1 randomized trial. We aimed to estimate the number of inpatient procedures performed in the United States and compare perioperative outcomes and costs of laparoscopic Heller myotomy and per-oral endoscopic myotomy using a nationally representative database.

Frailty Index associated with postoperative complications and mortality after lower extremity amputation in a national veteran cohort.

Objective: Surgical frailty and its assessment have become essential considerations in perioperative management for the modern aging surgical population. The risk analysis index is a validated frailty score that has been proven to predict short-term outcomes and long-term mortality in several surgical subspecialties and high-risk procedures. We examined the association of risk analysis index scores with postoperative outcomes in a retrospective nationwide database of patients who underwent lower extremity amputation in the Veterans Health Administration Health Care System.

Does Race or Ethnicity Impact Complications After Pulmonary Lobectomy for Patients With Lung Cancer?

Background: Racial disparity in surgical access and postoperative outcomes after pulmonary lobectomy continues to be a concern and target for improvement; however, evidence of independent impact of race on complications is lacking. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of race/ethnicity on surgical outcomes after lobectomy for lung cancer and estimate the distribution of racial/ethnic groups among expected resectable lung cancer cases using a large national database.

Methods: Patients who underwent lobectomy for lung cancer between 2005 and 2016 were identified in the American College of Surgeon National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Statins Protect against Thrombosis of Cannulated Radiocephalic Fistulas in Diabetic Patients.

Background: Radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (RCAVF) creation is the preferred first line hemodialysis access procedure. Analysis of diabetic rat arteriovenous fistula model indicates improved vascular function with HMG-CoA-Reductase Inhibitor (statin) use. We predict similar outcomes in diabetic patients undergoing primary RCAVF placement.

Developing sustainable prehospital trauma education in Rwanda.

Introduction: Every year, >5 million people worldwide die from trauma. In Kigali, Rwanda, 50% of prehospital care provided by SAMU, the public prehospital system, is for trauma. Our collaboration developed and implemented a context-specific, prehospital Emergency Trauma Care Course (ETCC) and train-the-trainers program for SAMU, based on established international best practices.

Prehospital emergency obstetric and neonatal care train-the-trainers program in Rwanda.

Objective: To improve maternal mortality rates, our collaboration developed and implemented a context-specific, prehospital Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Course (EONC) and train-the-trainers program in Rwanda.

Methods: Two cohorts of staff participated in the program-the SAMU emergency medical service and staff from district hospitals. A 2-day course was developed, consisting of skills stations, simulations, and didactics.

Five-Year Experience with VATS Versus Thoracotomy Segmentectomy for Lung Tumor Resection.

Objective: Segmentectomy for lung tumors has been performed with either video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) or thoracotomy; however, there is a lack of contemporary, multicenter study that compares both approaches. The aim of this study was to compare the 30-day surgical outcomes of VATS versus thoracotomy for segmentectomy using a large national database.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

Impact of renal function recovery utilizing left ventricular assist device support.

Background: In heart failure (HF) patients with renal insufficiency (RI), we hypothesize that mechanical circulatory support (MCS) with the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) will promote renal function recovery (RR). We sought to quantify RR with LVAD support over 6 months of follow-up.

Methods: RR data at 30, 90, and 180 days were analyzed for all LVAD patients with RI at the time of surgery.

Simplified preoperative tool predicting discharge destination after major oncologic gastrointestinal surgery.

Background: Preoperatively identifying patients who will require discharge to extended care facilities (ECFs) after major cancer surgery is valuable. This study compares existing models and derives a simple, preoperative tool for predicting discharge destination after major oncologic gastrointestinal surgery.

Methods: The American College of Surgeon National Surgical Quality Improvement datasets were used to evaluate existing risk stratification and frailty assessment tools between the years 2011 and 2015.