Surgical technology international
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Mitral valve prolapse occurs in 33.6% of patients undergoing surgery for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR). In the context of IMR, reparative strategy cannot disregard the underlying mechanism of pathogenesis and the progressive geometric alteration affecting left ventricle and papillary muscles. We present a case of extended mitral prolapse of the posteromedial commissure and A3 concomitant to chordal injury after inferior myocardial infarction. We propose a combined sequential approach including papillary muscle approximation and a mitral chordae system replacement.
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Since the dawn of endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR), starting from its initial report in 1991, there has been a significant evolution in stent graft design and delivery systems. Complications, mostly endoleaks, and re-intervention rates after EVAR remain amongst the most challenging aspects in comparison with traditional open repair. ⋯ By sealing the aneurysm sac instead of exclusion with only proximal and distal fixation, the risk of stent migration and endoleaks is theoretically diminished. Current investigational use is aimed to confirm clinical success, decreased complication, and secondary intervention rates compared to conventional endovascular repair.
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A variety of techniques have been used to stop venous bleeding from the cranial and spinal epidural space. These generally consist of packing with oxidized regenerated cellulose, fibrillar collagen, and so forth, and in cranial surgery, tack-up sutures. Bipolar coagulation may also be used to control bleeding from spinal venous plexus, but it may bear the risk of healthy nervous tissue injury: dissipation of heat from the tips of the bipolar forceps may induce thermal injury to adjacent neural structures. ⋯ In all cases, the results were judged to be excellent with stoppage of epidural bleeding, or good with mild persistent oozing. During the 10-minute observation period, no patients treated with EVICEL required additional hemostatic measures. No complications related to the fibrin glue were encountered.
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Patients with complex ventral/incisional hernias often undergo an abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). These operations have a high cost of care and often result in a long hospital stay and high complication rates. Using the principles of clinical quality improvement (CQI), several attempts at process improvement were implemented in one hernia program over a 3-year period. ⋯ No mesh-related complications occurred and no mesh removal was required. In this real-world, value-based application of CQI, several attempts at process improvement led to decreased costs and improved outcomes for patients who underwent abdominal wall reconstruction for complex ventral/incisional hernias. Value-based CQI could be a tool for improved health care value globally.