To the Editor: Because all the authors were not granted access to the raw data and the raw data could not be made available to a third-party auditor, we are unable to validate the primary data sources underlying our article, "Cardiovascular Disease, Drug Therapy, and Mortality in Covid-19." 1 We therefore request that the article be retracted. We apologize to the editors and to readers of the Journal for the difficulties that this has caused.
Key Points
Question
How do wait times for outpatient appointments compare between United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and private sector hospitals?
Findings
In this repeated cross-sectional study of wait time data from VA facilities and private sector hospitals in primary care, dermatology, cardiology, and orthopedics from 15 major metropolitan areas, there was no statistically significant difference between private sector and VA mean wait times in 2014. In 2017, mean wait times were statistically significantly shorter for the VA compared with the private sector facilities as wait times from 2014 to 2017 improved in the VA facilities while wait times in the private sector remained unchanged.
Meaning
Access to care within VA facilities appears to have improved between 2014 and 2017 and appears to have surpassed access in the private sector for 3 of the 4 specialties evaluated.
Infected popliteal aneurysms are a rare but high-risk pathology that may present as a surgical emergency with acute rupture and sepsis. Management of acute ischemia in the presence of systemic sepsis is challenging and requires timely diagnosis, rapid intervention, and multidisciplinary communication to ensure an optimum outcome for both life and limb in these patients. We report on a case of a ruptured mycotic popliteal artery aneurysm as a consequence of septic embolization from infective endocarditis managed by reverse saphenous vein bypass. The clinical presentation, diagnostic process, and approach to management along with a literature review on mycotic popliteal aneurysm are presented in this case report.
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