Subclavian steal syndrome in a right aortic arch with aberrant left subclavian artery atresia.

Congenital aortic arch anomalies are an uncommon diagnosis resulting from embryologic malformations during the fourth to eighth week of gestation. Asymptomatic variants frequently are overlooked in the perinatal period and diagnosed incidentally during adulthood. Symptomatic variants can present with steal syndrome or dysphagia lusoria. The right aortic arch is a rare anomaly that is usually associated with other congenital anomalies but can occur in isolation. The most common types of right aortic arches are mirror image branching or an aberrant left subclavian artery. Aortic arch anomalies are important to recognize as they may have important implications in management. We present a 74-year-old female with a right aortic arch and aberrant left subclavian artery that was discovered after a fall. An extensive evaluation and work-up revealed symptoms consistent with subclavian steal syndrome that resolved following a carotid-axillary bypass. Subclavian steal secondary to a right aortic arch is extremely rare. This report reviews the current literature of a right aortic arch with an aberrant left subclavian artery presenting as a subclavian steal syndrome.

Beware of the interval cholecystectomy.

BACKGROUND: Despite limited data regarding the indications and effectiveness of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in the treatment of acute cholecystitis (AC), usage has increased by over 500% since 1994. Many of these patients subsequently undergo interval cholecystectomy (IC), a procedure that has not been rigorously evaluated. This aim of this study was to quantify the morbidity and mortality associated with the IC. METHODS: We included all consecutive adult patients (>18 years old) who underwent PC and IC from January 2008 to December 2013. Conversion rate, length of operation, biliary injury, estimated blood loss, surgical site infection, length of stay, and mortality were compared with 227 patients who underwent cholecystectomy for AC during the same time interval. RESULTS: Of 18,501 patients who underwent cholecystectomy, 337 had at least one PC and 177 underwent subsequent IC. Compared with patients undergoing cholecystectomy for clinically diagnosed AC, patients undergoing IC were older (69.8 vs. 54.9 years; p < 0.001), thinner (body mass index, 28.7 vs. 31.1; p = 0.002), more complex by Tokyo grade (1.9 vs. 1.1; p < 0.001), and American Society of Anesthesia classification (3.0 vs. 2.5; p < 0.001), had longer operative times (120.7 vs. 92.5 minutes; p < 0.0001), more blood loss (30 vs. 15 mL; p = 0.01), and increased rates of conversion (26.6% vs. 12.8%; p < 0.001), surgical site infection (12.4% vs. 0.4%; p < 0.001), bowel injury (6.2% vs. 0.4%; p < 0.001), and 1-year mortality (15.3% vs. 0.4%; p < 0.01). Nonsignificant trends included significant biliary tract injury (3 vs. 0; p = 0.08) and longer length of stay (7.3 vs. 4.8 days; p = 0.39). Linear regression identified body mass index (p = 0.03), time from admission to PC (p = 0.03), and American Society of Anesthesia classification (p = 0.06) as predictors of a difficult IC. CONCLUSION: PC has been widely adopted with limited description of the subsequent IC. Our data detail the factors predicting the challenges of IC and document that it is a difficult operation associated with significant morbidity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic, level IV.

Radiographic assessment of ground-level falls in elderly patients: Is the "PAN-SCAN" overdoing it?

INTRODUCTION: Routine, whole-body computed tomography imaging (PAN-SCAN) has been shown to identify unexpected injuries and alter the management of patients presenting with blunt trauma. We sought to characterize the changes in practice over time and the utility of PAN-SCAN imaging in elderly patients who fall and require admission to a trauma center. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis by using data derived from a Pennsylvania state-wide trauma registry (2007-2010). All hemodynamically stable patients (>65 years) who had a ground-level fall and were admitted for >24 hours were selected. Patients who underwent a combination of all three scans within 2 hours of arrival were considered to have underwent PAN-SCAN imaging. Clinical outcomes were compared across PAN-SCAN patients relative to less diagnostic imaging. Regression analysis was used to determine whether PAN-SCAN imaging was an independent determinate of mortality and resource use. RESULTS: Over the period of study, 13,043 patients met inclusion criteria. The annual rate of PAN-SCAN imaging after ground-level falls increased over time. After we controlled for important confounders, PAN-SCAN imaging was not associated with mortality (odds ratio 0.97, P = .74, 95% confidence interval 0.80-1.18). Despite greater injury severity, PAN-SCAN imaging was independently associated with significantly lesser intensive care unit requirements, step-down days, and a lesser overall duration of stay. CONCLUSION: PAN-SCAN imaging has become more common over time in elderly patients having a ground-level fall. Although PAN-SCAN imaging during the initial trauma evaluation was not associated with an independent decrease in the risk of mortality, it was independently associated with lesser hospital resource use. These data suggest that whole-body computed tomography imaging may benefit trauma center resource use for patients with ground-level falls.

Evolving role of endovascular techniques for traumatic vascular injury: a changing landscape?

BACKGROUND: Endovascular management of blunt aortic injury has dramatically reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with this specific injury. There remains a paucity of evidence quantifying the beneficial effects associated with endovascular (ENDO) techniques for other vascular injury types and little information regarding the impact ENDO techniques have had on the management of traumatic vascular injuries over time. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of data from the National Trauma Data Bank over 2002 to 2006 and 2008 time periods (NTDB 7.2 and RDS 2008). Injured patients undergoing any arterial vascular repair procedure using ENDO or standard open techniques were determined using ICD-9-CM procedure codes. Abbreviated Injury codes were used to select patients who suffered subclavian, carotid, or thoracic aortic injury. Logistic regression was used to determine whether EARLY ENDO procedures (first 24 hours after injury) were independently associated with a lower risk of mortality. RESULTS: The percentage of ENDO procedures significantly increased over time irrespective of mechanism of injury. When aortic (thoracic), subclavian, and carotid arterial injuries were analyzed, a significant decrease in mortality over time was found. The percentage of ENDO procedures for all arterial injury subtypes significantly increased in the RECENT (2008) period. Seventy-five percentage of ENDO procedures occurred early (initial 24 hours) with 20% of those patients being hypotensive upon arrival (systolic blood pressure <90 mm Hg). For patients who had vascular procedures in the RECENT period, regression analysis revealed that early ENDO procedures were independently associated with a 35% reduction in mortality risk (odds ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-0.8) after controlling for major confounders including mechanism of injury and presence of hypotension on arrival. CONCLUSION: ENDO procedures for arterial injury have increased over time while mortality for arterial injury subtypes has significantly decreased. Early ENDO procedures are common and are independently associated with a lower risk of mortality. These results suggest outcomes after vascular injury may benefit from ENDO expertise and that ENDO techniques should be incorporated into the early treatment algorithm of trauma patients with vascular injury, particularly those that require difficult operative exposure.

Intracystic Papillary Carcinoma of the Breast.

We present the case of a 63-year-old woman with intracystic papillary carcinoma of the breast who presented with a palpable mass, one year after a negative mammogram. Sonography showed a complex mass and ultrasound-guided aspiration cytology was negative, and the patient returned 6 months later with a recurrent mass. Excisional biopsy revealed invasive intracystic papillary carcinoma. Intracystic papillary carcinoma is a rare malignancy of the breast primarily affecting postmenopausal women. As opposed to invasive micropapillary carcinoma, intracystic papillary carcinoma is a low-grade carcinoma with a favorable prognosis.

What do physician extenders in a general surgery residency really do?

OBJECTIVE: The 80-hour workweek has forced surgical training programs to employ physician extenders to reduce work hours and improve the educational environment. The purpose of our study was to document objectively the specific workload provided by physician extenders and to evaluate any objective or subjective benefit provided to the residency program. METHOD: Over 4 consecutive months, all orders written by 2 physician extenders associated exclusively with the general surgery residency program at our institution were reviewed. They were categorized as daytime or evening orders and were subdivided into admission, routine preoperative and postoperative, acute care, daily laboratories, pain medications, Pro re nata (PRN), wound care, and discharge orders. Acute care issues and PRN orders were individually examined and subdivided. The appropriateness, total volume, and the orders for each category were totaled and reviewed. RESULTS: Overall, 3101 total orders (1128 daytime and 1973 nighttime) were reviewed in a 4-month time period. On average, physician extenders at night wrote 35 orders per shift, compared with only 18.8 orders during the day. During the night, admission orders totaled 547 (27.7%), preoperative orders 442 (22%), acute care issues 324 (16.4%), PRN orders 239 (12%), and pain medication and PRN sleeping pills 156 (8%). During the day, routine postoperative orders totaled 305 (27%), daily laboratories 184 (16%), and discharge orders 253 (22%). CONCLUSION: Physician extenders wrote appropriate orders and reduced resident workload. Educational opportunities increased because fewer residents left conference for acute patient care issues, and 1 fewer resident was absent during the day secondary to 1 less resident being sent home postcall. Performance on the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) increased dramatically for a focused group of residents. As the expense of each extender is approximately $90,000, justification to administration is dependent on the institutional support and efficiency of the residency program. A clear simple outcome is that by improving standing orders and clinical pathways, and by using an electronic medical record system, noneducational work hours can be reduced significantly.

Carotid artery fibromuscular dysplasia.

Extracranial carotid artery fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is a rare finding that is frequently incidental and asymptomatic. It usually occurs in middle-age women and is secondary to medial fibrodysplasia or, less commonly, intimal fibrodysplasia. The carotid artery may be elongated or kinked and associated aneurysms have been reported. Symptoms including transient ischemic attack or stroke are uncommon and are due to low flow or embolization of platelet aggregates. Digital subtraction angiography demonstrates high-grade stenosis with the characteristic "string of beads" pattern. Antiplatelet medication with sequential imaging is the accepted therapy for asymptomatic lesions. Graduated endoluminal dilation under direct vision should be reserved for patients with documented lateralizing symptoms.

Buttock necrosis after uterine artery embolization.

BACKGROUND: Uterine artery embolization is an increasingly popular alternative to hysterectomy or myomectomy for treatment of symptomatic uterine leiomyomata. CASE: A woman with a symptomatic uterine fibroid developed 2 areas of full-thickness necrosis on her right buttock following uterine artery embolization. After surgical debridement, healing occurred over 14 weeks. CONCLUSION: Buttock necrosis is a possible complication of nontarget embolization during uterine artery embolization.

Supraspinatus compartment syndrome.

Surgical management of supraspinatus compartment syndrome has not been previously reported. A high index of suspicion for severe shoulder pain of unclear etiology coupled with MRI is necessary for diagnosis. Prompt decompression to avoid irreversible ischemia is warranted. Perhaps mild ischemia of the supraspinatus muscle is an unrecognized cause of recurrent shoulder pain.