J Cardiovasc Surg
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The use of temporary pacing wires has become wide-spread in cardiac surgery. Complications related to their use are rare. We report a case of cardiac tamponade following removal of an atrial pacing wire.
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Case Reports
Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the axillary artery following anterior dislocation of the shoulder. Case report.
Vascular complications are rare in cases of simple anterior dislocation of the shoulder but the axillary artery or its branches may be damaged. Very few cases are found in the literature reporting false aneurysms of axillary artery secondary to blunt trauma to the shoulder. A case of pseudoaneurysm of the axillary artery in a 75-year-old woman is reported. ⋯ Delayed recognition of these lesions may lead to permanent neurologic deficits despite adequate vascular repair of the axillary artery. A coordinated vascular and orthopaedic approach and prompt surgical treatment may assure full upper limb function. Although endovascular treatment of these lesions could seem attractive, we prefer to use open surgical techniques because they allow us to treat frequent concomitant injuries and perform decompression of the axillar fossa because of the large haematoma.
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Isolated traumatic laceration of the azygos vein is a rare condition that is mainly associated with violent deceleration traumas. Diagnosis is crucially based on radiologic evidence of massive right pleural bleeding and hemorrhagic shock. Surgical exploration needs to be early and concomitant with resuscitation, prognosis largely depending on timely intervention. Median sternotomy provides the most advantageous access because it can be quickly performed and allows for surgical exploration.