The combination of a negative D-Dimer (<500 ng/ml) and an Aortic Dissection Detection (ADD) risk score of ≤1 missed 0.3% of patients with acute aortic syndrome.

Consider testicular torsion a surgical emergency even if it is past the usual 6-8 hour mark, which is traditionally taught as the outer limit of testicular viability.  This study found that the testicle could still be salvaged over half the time from 13-24 hours from onset.

Sudden-onset, severe ("worst-ever"), sharp chest pain was the hallmark type A and B aortic dissection.  Ripping or tearing pain was present in only half of patients.  Classic features of aortic regurgitation murmur and pulse deficit were frequently lacking.

Female surgeons had small but significantly improved 30-day mortality and other surgical outcomes over male surgeons, all other factors being equal.

If a pediatric surgeon needs to delay appendectomy, you can reassure families this is a safe practice and will not increase the risk for adverse outcomes, like perforation.

Don't rely on the LRINEC score to distinguish which patients do or do not have necrotizing fasciitis (NF).  It fails as a reliable diagnostic screening test.  NF remains a clinical diagnosis.

Both ultrasound and rapid MRI are viable initial imaging options in young patients with suspected appendicitis.  But in this study, MRI led to increased length of stay and significantly increased ED charges.

Non-operative treatment is an option for pediatric acute appendicitis.  But I don't plan to recommend it to patients.

Ultrasound is the right first imaging test to rule out appendicitis, but it's very important to set family expectations low and inform them that the study is often not diagnostic and that more imaging may be needed.

The LRINEC score is a highly accurate way to distinguish ordinary skin infections from necrotizing fasciitis.  Just for fun, and since LRINEC is such a crummy mnemonic, I propose we change the name to NEC-FAST - NECrotizing Fasciitis Assessment of Serologic Tests.