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Introduction: Peripheral nerves preferentially conduct electricity due to their low resistance as compared with other tissues, predisposing them to injury from electrical burns. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of fasciotomy and peripheral nerve decompression on peripheral nerves after electric injury., Methods: A systematic review of patients who had sustained electric burn injuries was performed according to PRISMA Guidelines. Incidence, demographic and injury characteristics, and patterns of symptoms were analyzed. Meta-analysis was performed to examine changes from baseline from nerve conduction studies. Outcomes for fasciotomy and various nerve decompressions were also analyzed., Results: Of the 119 articles included in for systematic review, 16,773 patients were included. Most available studies the case reports or case series that yielded moderate- to poor-quality evidence. The median follow-up of the included patients was 44 weeks (IQR 15-97 weeks). Patients who underwent fasciotomy had significantly lower rates of peripheral neuropathy than those who did not by the last recorded follow-up (45% vs. 92%, p < 0.0001). Patients who underwent peripheral nerve decompression after 30 days of injury had lower rates of peripheral neuropathy at the last follow-up compared with those who underwent decompression within 30 days (21% vs. 53%, p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: A paucity of high-quality evidence exists to standardize management recommendations for peripheral nerve injury; however, of what literature does exist, it seems that fasciotomy and nerve decompressions are associated with improved peripheral nerve function in the long-term, but nerve decompression likely provides more benefit when performed if symptoms persist one-year post-injury., (© 2025 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The hypermetabolism that occurs after large burns leads to muscle wasting that can result in weakness, difficulty fighting infections, and other challenges to healing. Overall, rates of muscle wasting are not well established across burn centers. The Burn Care Quality Platform (BCQP), the largest available dataset on burn patients globally, was used to explore the rate of Muscle Wasting using data collected from more than 100 burn centers. "Muscle Wasting" was defined from relevant ICD codes (sarcopenia, muscle cachexia, protein malnutrition). Binomial and logistic regression were used to analyze the role of Muscle Wasting in burn mortality and other outcomes after controlling for demographic and comorbid characteristics. In total, the BCQP provided data from 84 438 adult and pediatric burn patients injured between 2000 and 2018. Only 2.6% (N = 2159) of the patients in the BCQP were diagnosed with having Muscle Wasting at some point during their admission. While Muscle Wasting was not associated with a statistically significant impact on mortality, it remained an independent predictor of inability to discharge to independent living, longer inpatient days, as well as an average of 10 additional surgical procedures (P < .001 for all) as compared to patients who did not have Muscle Wasting. Muscle Wasting is an independent risk factor for several adverse outcomes in burn patients, but not mortality in the BCQP. Confidence in these findings would be improved with more accurate data collection, as the diagnosis of Muscle Wasting is likely under-reported, under-diagnosed, or both., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Burn Association. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Introduction: Burn patients in rural areas may encounter poorer outcomes associated with barriers to care; however, residence has not been studied in a large sample. The association between rural-versus-urban residence and outcomes after burn was examined using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database., Methods: Using the 2019 NIS database, patients over 18 years with a primary diagnosis of burn or corrosive injury were included. Level of urbanization was categorized into six groups. Outcomes after burn such as in-hospital mortality, multifactorial shock, prolonged mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and total costs were analyzed after adjusting for demographic factors and hospital characteristics., Results: We included 4671 records, which represented a weighted population of 23,085 patients. Rural residence was associated with higher percentage of prior transfer but not in-hospital mortality. Compared to the most urbanized counties, encounters from the most rural counties were associated with higher odds of shock (aOR:2.62, 99% CI: 1.04-6.56, p = 0.007)., Conclusion: Burn encounters from less urbanized counties did not experience differences in mortality, rates of skin grafting, prolonged mechanical ventilation, length of stay, or overall costs. However, odds of shock were higher among the least urbanized counties. Despite improved triage and transportation systems across the US, disparities and challenges exist for burn patients from rural residence., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and International Society of Burns Injuries. All rights reserved.)

Background: Prospective randomized trials in severely burned children have shown the positive effects of oxandrolone (OX), beta blockers (BB) and a combination of the two (BBOX) on hypermetabolism, catabolism and hyperinflammation short- and long-term post-burn. Although data on severely burned adults are lacking in comparison, BB, OX and BBOX appear to be commonly employed in this patient population. In this study, we perform a secondary analysis of an international prospective randomized trial dataset to provide descriptive evidence regarding the current utilization patterns and potential treatment effects of OX, BB and BBOX., Methods: The RE-ENERGIZE (RandomizEd Trial of ENtERal Glutamine to minimIZE Thermal Injury, NCT00985205) trial included 1200 adult patients with severe burns. We stratified patients according to their receipt of OX, BB, BBOX or none of these drugs (None) during acute hospitalization. Descriptive statistics describe the details of drug therapy and unadjusted analyses identify predisposing factors for drug use per group. Association between OX, BB and BBOX and clinical outcomes such as time to discharge alive and 6-month mortality were modeled using adjusted multivariable Cox regressions., Results: More than half of all patients in the trial received either OX (n = 138), BB (n = 293) or BBOX (n = 282), as opposed to None (n = 487, 40.6%). Per study site and geographical region, use of OX, BB and BBOX was highly variable. Predisposing factors for the use of OX, BB and BBOX included larger total body surface area (TBSA) burned, higher acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores on admission and younger patient age. After adjustment for multiple covariates, the use of OX was associated with a longer time to discharge alive [hazard ratio (HR) 0.62, confidence interval (CI) (0.47-0.82) per 100% increase, p  = 0.001]. A higher proportion of days on BB was associated with lower in-hospital-mortality (HR: 0.5, CI 0.28-0.87, p  = 0.015) and 6-month mortality (HR: 0.44, CI 0.24-0.82, p  = 0.01)., Conclusions: The use of OX, BB and BBOX is common within the adult burn patient population, with its use varying considerably across sites worldwide. Our findings found mixed associations between outcomes and the use of BB and OX in adult burn patients, with lower acute and 6-month-mortality with BB and longer times to discharge with OX. Further research into these pharmacological modulators of the pathophysiological response to severe burn injury is indicated., Competing Interests: None declared., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press.)

Introduction: Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in the metabolic myopathy accompanying peripheral artery disease (PAD) and critical limb ischemia (CLI). Type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a major risk factor for PAD development and progression to CLI and may also independently be related to mitochondrial dysfunction. We set out to determine the effect of T2DM in the relationship between CLI and muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity and coupling control., Methods: We studied CLI patients undergoing revascularization procedures or amputation, and non-CLI patients with or without T2DM of similar age. Mitochondrial respiratory capacity and function were determined in lower limb permeabilized myofibers by high-resolution respirometry., Results: Fourteen CLI patients (65 ± 10y) were stratified into CLI patients with (n = 8) or without (n = 6) T2DM and were compared to non-CLI patients with (n = 18; 69 ± 5y) or without (n = 19; 71 ± 6y) T2DM. Presence of CLI but not T2DM had a marked impact on all mitochondrial respiratory states in skeletal muscle, adjusted for the effects of sex. Leak respiration (State 2, P < 0.025 and State 4 o , P < 0.01), phosphorylating respiration (P < 0.001), and maximal respiration in the uncoupled state (P < 0.001), were all suppressed in CLI patients, independent of T2DM. T2DM had no significant effect on mitochondrial respiratory capacity and function in adults without CLI., Conclusions: Skeletal muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity was blunted by ∼35% in patients with CLI. T2DM was not associated with muscle oxidative capacity and did not moderate the relationship between muscle mitochondrial respiratory capacity and CLI., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Approximately 20-30% of ischemic strokes are caused by internal carotid artery stenosis. Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the second leading cause of death in the United States. Second generation transcarotid arterial revascularization (TCAR) stenting, using the ENROUTE flow reversal technology to prevent embolic stroke during the stenting process, has demonstrated stroke and death outcomes equivalent to carotid endarterectomy with reduced cranial nerve injury. However, at present, it is not known whether imaging characteristics obtained preoperatively can predict outcomes of TCAR procedures., Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent TCAR with flow reversal at three hospitals within a single hospital network who had computed tomography angiography, magnetic resonance imaging angiography, or preoperative diagnostic angiogram to determine whether carotid and lesion characteristics could predict patients who experienced major adverse critical events (MACE) versus those who did not. MACE was defined as myocardial infarction at 30 days, restenosis/persistent stenosis (peak systolic velocity within the stent >230 cm/sec by postoperative ultrasound), stroke within any time of follow-up, or death within 1 year of TCAR. Student's t-tests and Chi-squared tests were used to compare imaging characteristics, such as presence of pinpoint stenosis, calcification within the common carotid artery at the take-off from the aorta, and plaque length in millimeters. Binomial logistic regression was used to examine the likelihood that imaging characteristics were associated with MACE., Results: Of 220 patients who underwent TCAR in our network, seven were excluded because flow reversal was not used or appropriate imaging had not been performed prior to TCAR. Of the 213 patients who were included in analysis, the median length of follow-up was 10.8 months (interquartile range: 3.4-33.1 months). Twelve percent (26/213) experienced MACE and a model based on imaging characteristics was statistically significant in predicting MACE with 68% accuracy (P = 0.005). The presence of pinpoint stenosis was highly predictive of MACE (hazards ratio: 3.34, confidence interval: 1.2 to 9.3, P = 0.021). A shorter clavicle to carotid bifurcation distance was associated with an increased likelihood of experiencing MACE (P = 0.009) but it was weakly predictive (hazards ratio: 1.03, confidence interval: 1.01 to 1.05)., Conclusions: Preoperative imaging characteristics, such as pinpoint stenosis and clavicle to carotid bifurcation distance, can be used to predict adverse outcomes in TCAR placement., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for esophageal cancer has been associated with decreased pain, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stay with comparable survival to open surgery. To date, there is minimal information regarding what factors are associated with access to MIE., Methods: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was used to compare rates of MIE (either robotic or laparoscopic) and open esophagectomy (OE) by demographic and clinical factors. Continuous variables were compared using a linear trend test, and categorical variables were compared using Mantel-Haenszel tests. Binomial regression was performed to examine significant factors after adjusting for confounding variables., Results: There were 18,366 patients included in the analysis. Of all esophagectomies performed in the US, 49% were performed by OE and 51% were performed by MIE. Patients who had undergone MIE were more likely to live in the Eastern US as compared with the Midwest [odds ratio (OR) 1.72; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.58, 1.88] or the South (OR 1.31; 95% CI 1.19, 1.44). They were also more likely to be treated at an academic center (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.53, 1.75) rather than a community hospital, and to be of White race as compared with Asian race (OR 1.46; 95% CI 1.10, 1.92). There was not a significant difference in the rates of MIE between White and Black patients (OR 1.12; 95% CI 0.96, 1.32). MIE was more likely with each passing year, and higher TNM stages of cancer were less likely to be treated with MIE (P < 0.001 for all)., Conclusion: While MIE is evolving, OE is still considered standard of care with robotic approaches representing a minority of MIE. While there are several factors associated with access to MIE, including race, facility type and geographic location, these factors should be further explored to help increase access to MIE., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

A 69-year-old man was referred to the hepatobiliary surgeons for mild enlargement of an asymptomatic cystic liver lesion found on routine screening in 2017 that measured 3.7×3.6×4.3 cm. Work-up with MRI revealed a complex multilocular cyst that had enlarged to 6.6×5.5×4.6 cm. Other work-up was unremarkable. He had a Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score of 1; therefore, a surgical excision was planned due to the possibility for malignancy. A robotic approach with enucleation of the lesion was undertaken, with plans for return for a wider resection if pathological examination revealed malignancy. The lesion was noted to be a biliary adenofibroma, an exceptionally rare lesion that is thought to be benign, but requires excision due to potential malignant degeneration. The patient was discharged home the following day and has had minimal pain in his postoperative course., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2021. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Profound skeletal muscle wasting in the setting of total body hypermetabolism is a defining characteristic of massive burns, compromising the patient's recovery and necessitating a protracted period of rehabilitation. In recent years, the prolonged use of the non-selective beta-blocker, propranolol, has gained prominence as an effective tool to assist with suppressing epinephrine-dependent burn-induced hypermetabolism and by extension, blunting muscle catabolism. However, synthetic β-adrenergic agonists, such as clenbuterol, are widely associated with the promotion of muscle growth in both animals and humans. Moreover, experimental adrenodemedullation is known to result in muscle catabolism. Therefore, the blunting of muscle β-adrenergic signaling via the use of propranolol would be expected to negatively impair muscle protein homeostasis. This review explores these paradoxical observations and identifies the manner by which propranolol is thought to exert its anti-catabolic effects in burn patients. Moreover, we identify potential avenues by which the use of beta-blocker therapy in the treatment of massive burns could potentially be further refined to promote the recovery of muscle mass in these critically ill patients while continuing to ameliorate total body hypermetabolism., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.)

An earlier report described a human case of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) caused by mixed infection with 4 Aeromonas hydrophila strains (NF1-NF4). While the NF2, NF3, and NF4 strains were clonal and possessed exotoxin A (ExoA), the NF1 strain was determined to be phylogenetically distinct, harboring a unique type 6 secretion system (T6SS) effector (TseC). During NF1 and NF2 mixed infection, only NF1 disseminated, while NF2 was rapidly killed by a contact-dependent mechanism and macrophage phagocytosis, as was demonstrated by using in vitro models. To confirm these findings, we developed 2 NF1 mutants (NF1Δ tseC and NF1Δ vasK ); vasK encodes an essential T6SS structural component. NF1 VasK and TseC were proven to be involved in contact-dependent killing of NF2 in vitro, as well as in its elimination at the intramuscular injection site in vivo during mixed infection, with overall reduced mouse mortality. ExoA was shown to have an important role in NF by both NF1- exoA (with cis exoA ) and NF2 during monomicrobial infection. However, the contribution of ExoA was more important for NF2 than NF1 in the murine peritonitis model. The NF2∆ exoA mutant did not significantly alter animal mortality or NF1 dissemination during mixed infection in the NF model, suggesting that the ExoA activity was significant at the injection site. Immunization of mice to ExoA protected animals from NF2 monomicrobial challenge, but not from polymicrobial infection because of NF2 clearance. This study clarified the roles of T6SS and ExoA in pathogenesis caused by A. hydrophila NF strains in both mouse peritonitis and NF models in monomicrobial and polymicrobial infections., Competing Interests: Competing interest statement: R.R.C. is the chairman while N.A.H. serves as a chief scientific officer for CosmosID. The corresponding authors do not have competing interest with CosmosID Inc.

Background: Massive burns induce a hypermetabolic response that leads to total body wasting and impaired physical and psychosocial recovery. The administration of propranolol or oxandrolone positively affects postburn metabolism and growth. The combined administration of oxandrolone and propranolol (OxProp) for 1 year restores growth in children with large burns. Here, we investigated whether the combined administration of OxProp for 1 year would reduce scarring and improve quality of life compared with control., Study Design: Children with large burns (n = 480) were enrolled into this institutional review board-approved study; patients were randomized to control (n = 226) or administration of OxProp (n = 126) for 1 year postburn. Assessments were conducted at discharge and 6, 12, and 24 months postburn. Scar biopsies were obtained for histology. Physical scar assessments and patient reported outcome measures of physical and psychosocial function were obtained., Results: Reductions in cellularity, vascular structures, inflammation, and abnormal collagen (P < 0.05) occurred in OxProp-treated scars. With OxProp, scar severity was attenuated and pliability increased (both P < 0.05). Analyses of patient-reported outcomes showed improved general and emotional health within the OxProp-treated group (P < 0.05)., Conclusions: Here, we have shown improvements in objective and subjective measures of scarring and an increase in overall patient-reported physical function. The combined administration of OxProp for up to a year after burn injury should be considered for the reduction of postburn scarring and improvement of long-term psychosocial outcomes in children with massive burns.

Objectives: Prolonged hospitalization due to burn injury results in physical inactivity and muscle weakness. However, how these changes are distributed among body parts is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of body composition changes in different anatomical regions during ICU hospitalization., Design: Retrospective chart review., Setting: Children's burn hospital., Patients: Twenty-four severely burned children admitted to our institution between 2000 and 2015., Interventions: All patients underwent a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry within 2 weeks after injury and 2 weeks before discharge to determine body composition changes. No subject underwent anabolic intervention. We analyzed changes of bone mineral content, bone mineral density, total fat mass, total mass, and total lean mass of the entire body and specifically analyzed the changes between the upper and lower limbs., Measurements and Main Results: In the 24 patients, age was 10 ± 5 years, total body surface area burned was 59% ± 17%, time between dual-energy x-ray absorptiometries was 34 ± 21 days, and length of stay was 39 ± 24 days. We found a significant (p < 0.001) average loss of 3% of lean mass in the whole body; this loss was significantly greater (p < 0.001) in the upper extremities (17%) than in the lower extremities (7%). We also observed a remodeling of the fat compartments, with a significant whole-body increase in fat mass (p < 0.001) that was greater in the truncal region (p < 0.0001) and in the lower limbs (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: ICU hospitalization is associated with greater lean mass loss in the upper limbs of burned children. Mobilization programs should include early mobilization of upper limbs to restore upper extremity function.

Objective: This study examined the flow behavior of four stent graft configurations for endovascular repair of complex aneurysms of the descending aorta., Methods: Computational fluid dynamics models with transient boundary conditions and rigid wall simplifying assumptions were developed and used with four distinct geometries to compare various near-wall hemodynamic parameters., Results: Graphic plots for time-averaged wall shear stress, oscillating shear index, and relative residence time were presented and compared among the four stent graft configurations of interest., Conclusions: Abrupt 90° and 180° changes in stent geometry (particularly in the side branches) cause a high momentum change and thus increased flow separation and mixing, which has significant implications in blood flow characteristics near the wall. By comparison, longer bridging stents provide more gradual changes in momentum, thus allowing blood flow to develop before reaching the target vessel., (Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)