Annals of surgery
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Aneurysm of the thoracic aorta is a serious form of disease because it may be extensive or associated with a more distant aneurysm. This manifestation occurs in about one-third of the cases. The actuarial 5-year survival of nontreated patients is only 13% with many patients dying from aortic rupture. ⋯ Sixteen (76%) of the former are still alive 4 months to 6 1/3 years. Six (55%) of those in whom operation was limited to replacement of the symptomatic aortic segment because of limited risk are still alive. Of the ten deaths occurring during the study period, four (40%) and perhaps five (50%) were due to natural rupture of unresected disease which indicates its progressive nature and suggests the need for aggressive surgical treatment.
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Over a period of 54 months, every patient undergoing colon surgery at the Hadassah University Hospital in Jerusalem was followed up prospectively by the same nurse epidemiologist. A total of 403 patients completed the analysis. Risk factors for postoperative wound infection were explored in an epidemiological study, using both single and multivariate analysis. ⋯ In patients undergoing more than one operation, the risk for infection was greater if the second operation followed a surgical complication than if it was performed as an elective second procedure; whether the first operation was elective or not did not affect the infection rate. Second operations performed within 7 days of the first carried a higher risk for infection than those performed later. The different prophylactic protocols used during the period of investigation did not have an independently significant contribution to the risk of infection.
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Case Reports
Total aortic replacement for chronic aortic dissection occurring in patients with and without Marfan's syndrome.
Total aortic replacement including aortic valve was performed successfully in the two patients in whom this method of treatment was utilized to correct a chronic dissecting aortic aneurysm. Both patients had moderately severe aortic insufficiency producing increasing heart strain and progressive enlargement of the false lumen of aortic dissection involving the entire aorta despite ideal blood pressure control. In addition, one patient had Marfan's syndrome. ⋯ Left vocal cord paralysis occurred in both patients and transient mild paraparesis occurred in only one. Both patients are alive and well, one at 13 months and one at 6 weeks. This experience suggests an additional treatment modality for selected patients with complications of chronic aortic dissection.
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Only a small subset of patients with combined superficial femoral artery and vein injuries results in amputation. The importance of the venous component as a risk factor for amputation is uncertain. Ligation vs. reconstruction of venous injuries is controversial. ⋯ All three amputations underwent ligation of the superficial femoral vein with arterial reconstruction by placement of a reversed interposition saphenous vein graft (p = 0.0009). None of the remaining 22 patients with salvaged limbs underwent reconstruction by this combination of techniques. Consequently, the authors emphasize the importance of venous reconstruction, particularly in combined injuries with major arterial involvement requiring interposed grafts.
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Severe pancreatic complications following cardiac surgery are rare, but 14 patients with severe pancreatitis have been encountered since 1971. Six of these developed acute fulminating pancreatitis following cardiac surgery and each of these died within 21 days following operation. Seven patients had less severe pancreatitis, resulting in pancreatic abscess formation and five in this group expired. ⋯ Although the etiologic mechanisms are unclear, possible factors include: prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass, "the low cardiac output syndrome," and inadequately treated or unrecognized postoperative pancreatitis. The diagnosis is based on physical examination, upper gastrointestinal series, and the abdominal CT scan. Despite aggressive surgical therapy, pancreatitis following cardiopulmonary bypass is an extremely serious condition.