Surgical treatment of graft infection combined with aortoesophageal fistula after TEVAR: a retrospective single-center, single-arm study

Aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) secondary to thoracic aortic endovascular repair (TEVAR) is rare and fatal. The author reports the treatment methods and outcomes of 10 patients with a TEVAR graft infection and a…  Read More

Assessing the predictive efficacy of noninvasive liver fibrosis indices and portal vein diameter in predicting esophageal variceal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis

The objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of noninvasive serum liver fibrosis markers and portal vein diameter (PVD) in predicting the occurrence of esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB) …  Read More

SNAI1: a key modulator of survival in lung squamous cell carcinoma and its association with metastasis

Snail family zinc finger 1 (SNAI1) has been implicated in cancer progression and prognosis across various malignancies. This study aims to elucidate the prognostic significance of SNAI1 expression in Lung Squa…  Read More

Role of Pericardial Patch in Neurosurgery: Institutional Experience

Neurol India. 2024 Mar 1;72(2):292-296. doi: 10.4103/ni.ni_327_22. Epub 2024 Apr 30.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Dural closure is an important part of neurosurgery, failure which may lead to wound infection, pseudomeningoceles, meningitis, severe morbidity to a patient, and even mortality. In cases where primary dura closure is not possible, a bovine pericardial patch is a good alternative with the benefits of suturability and the ability to provide watertight closure, hence preventing Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) leak. The present study demonstrates the use of the bovine pericardial patch in both cranial and spinal disorders for dural closure as well as for transposition technique in microvascular decompression.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study is to understand the advantages and feasibility of a bovine pericardial patch in various neurosurgical procedures.

MATERIAL METHODS: Fifty-one patients were analyzed prospectively and followed up in which glutaraldehyde-free bovine pericardial patch was used in various cranial and spinal disorders.

RESULTS: The most common indications where a bovine pericardial patch was used, in decreasing order of frequency, were meningioma excision surgery (47%), followed by Chiari malformation operated for foramen magnum decompression (17.6%), meningomyelocele (7.8%), spinal dural defects (7.8%), trigeminal neuralgia (5.8%), traumatic decompression with lax duraplasty (4%), glioma (4%), encephalocele (4%), and skull base defects (2%). Two patients had complications, one with CSF leak and the other had superficial wound infection, which were managed appropriately.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of a bovine pericardial patch as a dural substitute in various cranial and spinal disorders is feasible with good outcomes, and it can be considered an ideal dural substitute.

PMID:38691472 | DOI:10.4103/ni.ni_327_22

Long-term follow-up of posterior mitral leaflet extension for Type IIIb ischemic mitral regurgitation

JTCVS Open. 2024 Jan 22;18:33-42. doi: 10.1016/j.xjon.2024.01.007. eCollection 2024 Apr.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Ischemic mitral regurgitation (MR) is generally associated with very poor outcomes and disappointing results, despite a seemingly perfect initial repair and optimal revascularization. We previously published our intermediate-term results of posterior leaflet augmentation without follow-up extending beyond 4 years. Our objective is to assess long-term durability of the repair, survival, and the causes of late mortality.

METHODS: Ninety-one patients with severe (4+) Carpentier Type IIIb ischemic MR underwent repair in a single center between 2003 and 2022 by method of posterior leaflet extension using a patch of bovine pericardium and a true-sized remodeling annuloplasty ring, with or without surgical revascularization. Serial echocardiography was performed over the years to ascertain valve competence and degree of ventricular remodeling, in addition to telephone follow-up and chart reviews.

RESULTS: The average age of patients was 67 ± 9.6 years. Mean follow-up was 8 ± 5 years with some extending to almost 20 years. One-, 5-, and 10-year freedom from recurrent significant MR, characterized as moderate or severe MR, was 98.6%, 85.5%, and 71.3%, respectively. Thirty-day mortality was 6.5%. One-, 5-, and 10-year survival was 85.5%, 64.4%, and 43.3%, respectively. Of all the mortalities, only 17.5% were proven to be directly cardiac related.

CONCLUSIONS: The suggested repair technique offers satisfactory long-term outcomes with minimal residual regurgitation in surviving patients when used in context of ischemic MR. Despite durable repair, we have discovered that poor long-term survival is not directly related to cardiovascular causes.

PMID:38690431 | PMC:PMC11056449 | DOI:10.1016/j.xjon.2024.01.007