randallkrawcheck

[randallkrawcheck]

Saltwater Fish Species in South Carolina

Fishing enthusiasts living in or visiting South Carolina can target an array of saltwater fish. They may encounter blue marlin, the Atlantic saltfish, and tuna.

Blue marlin rank among the largest sport fish South Carolina anglers can capture, measuring up to 12 feet long and weighing approximately 2,000 pounds. They have deep blue scales and a silver-white underbelly. Individuals can instantly recognize a blue marlin by its large dorsal fin and long upper jaw, or bill, which resembles a spear.

Anglers can also find blue marlins in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. These fish tend to inhabit warm surface waters. However, they may swim to depths of 100 meters and subtropical oceans, which is unusual in the billfish family. They prefer windy environments with stable water temperatures.

Blue marlin fishing in South Carolina is generally very consistent, though the high season takes place between July and August. This represents the middle and later stages of the marlin's spawn season, which lasts from May to September. Anglers may struggle to land blue marlins between January and April and again from November to December, but there is no closed season.

The Atlantic sailfish is a comparable target for South Carolina anglers. Another highly valued trophy fish sports a similarly large dorsal fin and a long, spear-like upper jaw. There is some disagreement among scientists regarding whether there are one or two distinct species of Atlantic sailfish. The Istiophorus albican and the Istiophorus platypterus prefer warm surface waters between 70 and 83 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite ranking among the smaller individuals in the Istiophoridae family, they can still grow to lengths of 10 to 11 feet and weigh over 220 pounds. Like marlins, female sailfish are larger than males.

South Carolina's saltwater fish species include blackfin tuna, yellowfin tuna, Atlantic bonito, and king mackerel. Anglers can also target certain predatory species of fish, such as the great barracuda. Barracudas consistently inhabit the coastal waters off South Carolina. They are most abundant between April and August and less prevalent from October through February.

Unsurprisingly, great barracuda are among the largest in the barracuda family, with larger specimens measuring about five feet long and weighing up to 100 pounds. They respond well to silvery bait fish, including mackerel and small Bonita.

South Carolina anglers can also target various shark species, though there are many standards and regulations. All shark species count towards a bag limit of one shark per angler per day, in addition to minimum size requirements that vary between species. Anglers must secure both a federal Highly Migratory species permit and a South Carolina saltwater fishing license. Individuals must report all catches since the state encourages catch-and-release practices. Examples of legal shark species in South Carolina include lemon sharks and Atlantic sharp-nose sharks.

Anglers in South Carolina must also familiarize themselves with fish they cannot land or retain, such as the Atlantic shortfin mako shark. These sharks, which can measure up to 13 feet in length and may live for more than three decades, live in the New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions.

A 2017 stock assessment found that individuals overfished shortfin makos. In 2022, legislation made it illegal for anglers to target them. South Carolina and federal law also prohibit the targeting of angel sharks, sand tiger sharks, and great white sharks.

[randallkrawcheck]

An Overview of Hernias

Hernia, a medical term, refers to a rupture somewhere in the body, typically the groin or abdomen. Hernias occur after an organ forces itself through the surrounding tissue or muscle, resulting in a bulge.

The bulge can become more or less prevalent depending on how a person positions themselves or engages in physical activities. In some cases, hernias cause discomfort or pain, but other hernias have no obvious symptoms. Regardless of the physical pain, hernias usually need to be treated via surgery.

Common hernias develop when an abdominal organ pushes through the abdominal cavity. They may appear suddenly after an injury or surgery or develop over time as a person ages and incur general wear and tear throughout the body. Examples include a hernia pushing through the lower chest into the diaphragm, through the lower abdominal wall into the groin, or along the incision of a previous surgery.

Specific hernias include inguinal hernias and femoral hernias. Inguinal hernias are particularly common, accounting for about three in four in the United States. They are especially common in men. Inguinal hernias occur when a section of the bowel pushes into the inguinal canal somewhere along the inner thigh. Femoral hernias also take place around the groin, just beneath the inguinal canal, but are not as prevalent.

Not all hernias develop around the groin or abdomen. Hiatal hernias result from the upper portion of the stomach pushing through an opening in the diaphragm. Other types of hernias include incisional, umbilical, perineal, and ventral hernias.

A congenital diaphragmatic hernia is unusual among hernias because it is a birth defect. It is one of the most dangerous hernias a person can develop. These hernias are similar to hiatal hernias in that they develop when the diaphragm fails to close fully during fetal development. Without medical intervention, various abdominal organs can rise through the opening and into the chest cavity, crowding the lungs. This represents a particularly complicated medical situation because the fetal organs are still developing at a rapid rate.

While specific hernias vary in rarity, many Americans deal with them during their lifetimes. Half of Americans over the age of 50 will develop a hiatal hernia at some point, while one in four men will experience an inguinal hernia. Congenital hernias, usually umbilical hernias, impact an estimated 15 percent of newborns.

Certain hernias pose more threats than others. The condition becomes critical when the organ becomes stuck in the opening and cannot return to its place. At this point, the hernia can cause severe pain and may restrict blood flow. Without immediate treatment, surrounding tissue may suffer from necrosis. Untreated hernias increase these risks with time.

The most common warning sign is the visible lump of a hernia. If a person does not see the hernia, they may feel a dull ache or pressure. Hernias may appear more visible when a person is laughing, coughing, or lifting a heavy object. Individuals can mitigate their chances of developing a hernia by maintaining a healthy weight and addressing issues that cause chronic constipation. Long-term coughs and severe allergies can also cause hernias.

Physicians may take a cautious approach with smaller and milder hernias, but they can only permanently treat them through surgery. However, umbilical hernias in infants resolve on their own, though they may also require surgical intervention.

[randallkrawcheck]

Understanding the Role of a Surgical Intensivist

A surgical intensivist is a physician trained in surgery and critical care who specializes in managing critically ill surgical patients. Unlike general surgeons, they oversee life-threatening conditions before, during, and after surgery, ensuring comprehensive ICU care. Their expertise allows them to anticipate complications, manage physiological stressors, and provide advanced life support, including mechanical ventilation and precise fluid and medication management.

The responsibilities of a surgical intensivist extend beyond performing procedures. They stabilize patients with complex post-surgical needs, managing ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, and multi-organ dysfunction. By integrating critical care principles with surgical expertise, they make time-sensitive decisions that can be life-saving. Their vigilance ensures continuous monitoring and timely treatment adjustments, reducing severe complications and improving survival rates in postoperative infections or acute organ failure.

The presence of surgical intensivists in the ICU significantly improves patient outcomes. Studies indicate that intensivist-led care models reduce mortality rates, shorten ICU stays, and optimize resource utilization. Their expertise ensures effective management of critical conditions such as sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and post-surgical infections. By quickly adapting treatment plans, they reduce hospital-acquired complications and enhance ICU efficiency while maintaining individualized care.

Collaboration is central to the work of a surgical intensivist. They function as part of a multidisciplinary team that includes anesthesiologists, internal medicine specialists, nurses, and respiratory therapists. This collective approach ensures that surgical patients receive holistic care that addresses their immediate and long-term medical needs. Their leadership in ICU rounds allows for real-time decision-making, optimizing surgical recovery and overall patient health.

Surgical intensivists also play a key role in ethical decision-making within the ICU. They help families choose life-sustaining therapies by balancing medical feasibility and patient requests. Their clarity and sensitivity in communicating complicated prognostic information ensure that patients and their families actively participate in long-term care and quality-of-life decisions.

In addition to direct patient care, surgical intensivists contribute significantly to medical education and research. They play an integral role in training surgical and critical care fellows, imparting knowledge that strengthens future physicians. Their experience managing high-acuity patients allows them to develop and refine treatment protocols, leading to advancements in the field. Integrating data-driven decision-making into their practice will enable them to continually assess and refine strategies for improving patient care, ensuring that evidence-based methods drive their interventions.

The evolution of surgical intensive care has underscored the importance of specialization in critical care medicine. With the increasing complexity of surgical procedures and a growing population of high-risk patients, the demand for surgical intensivists continues to rise. Their expertise is vital in trauma centers and academic hospitals, where patients often require advanced interventions beyond standard surgical care. The integration of intensivists into these settings has reshaped critical care, emphasizing the need for dedicated specialists who can navigate the intricate challenges of modern medicine.

Beyond immediate critical care, surgical intensivists contribute to post-ICU recovery strategies, recognizing that survival alone is not the ultimate goal. They work with rehabilitation professionals to reduce cognitive impairment, muscular atrophy, and functional deterioration. Addressing these issues early improves patient outcomes outside the ICU, easing the transition to regular life and boosting well-being.

The surgical intensivist's role remains indispensable as healthcare systems refine their critical care approaches. Their unique combination of surgical accuracy and critical care abilities enhances patient survival and rehabilitation. In addition to patient treatment, their research and teaching advance critical care medicine. Surgical intensivists in the ICU demonstrate the need for specialized, high-quality treatment for the most vulnerable patients in an era of increased scrutiny of patient outcomes.