Endoscopic management of intramural spontaneous duodenal hematoma: A case report.

Background: Intramural duodenal hematoma is a rare condition described for the first time in 1838. This condition is usually associated with blunt abdominal trauma in children. Other non-traumatic risk factors for spontaneous duodenal haematoma include several pancreatic diseases, coagulation disorders, malignancy, collagenosis, peptic ulcers, vasculitis and upper endoscopy procedures.

Endoscopic management of patients with post-surgical leaks involving the gastrointestinal tract: A large case series.

Background: Post-surgical anastomotic leaks often require a re-intervention, are associated with a definite morbidity and mortality, and with relevant costs. We described a large series of patients with different post-surgical leaks involving the gastrointestinal tract managed with endoscopy as initial approach.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected cases with anastomotic leaks managed with different endoscopic approaches (with surgical or radiological drainage when needed) in two endoscopic centres during 5 years.

Outcome of superior mesenteric-portal vein resection during pancreatectomy for borderline ductal adenocarcinoma: results of a prospective comparative study.

Background: Approximately 20 % of patients affected by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma are amenable to surgical resection. Several tumours are reported as "borderline resectable" because of their proximity to the major vessels. In the effort to achieve a radical tumour removal, vein resection has been proposed, but its oncological benefits remain debated.

Long-term results of an open flexible prosthetic band for mitral insufficiency.

Background: use of a prosthetic ring is an integral part of any mitral valve repair and can influence the long-term stability of the results. We evaluated the long-term results of the AnnuloFlex ring implanted as an open flexible band in patients affected by degenerative mitral disease.

Methods: between 2001 and 2010, 82 patients (52 women, 30 men) with a mean age of 62 years, underwent repair of a prolapsing mitral valve with an AnnuloFlex band.

Growth properties of cardiac stem cells are a novel biomarker of patients' outcome after coronary bypass surgery.

Background: The efficacy of bypass surgery in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy is not easily predictable; preoperative clinical conditions may be similar, but the outcome may differ significantly. We hypothesized that the growth reserve of cardiac stem cells (CSCs) and circulating cytokines promoting CSC activation are critical determinants of ventricular remodeling in this patient population.

Methods And Results: To document the growth kinetics of CSCs, population-doubling time, telomere length, telomerase activity, and insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor expression were measured in CSCs isolated from 38 patients undergoing bypass surgery.

Risk factors for conversion of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Conversion during laparoscopic cholecystectomy has adverse effects on operating time, postoperative morbidity and hospital costs. Identifying risk factors for conversion is thus important to help surgeons to plan and counsel the patient and arranging operating schedules accordingly. This study evaluated retrospectively preoperative and intraoperative risk factors for conversion in 906 laparoscopic cholecystectomies for gallbladder calculosis.

A case of myocardial infarction effectively treated by emergency coronary stenting soon after a Bentall-De Bono aortic surgery.

Postoperative ischemia may complicate cardiac surgery, despite myocardial protection and recent technical developments. Its medical management in the intensive cardiac care unit is usually efficient, although sometimes it requires the revision of the surgical site. In other cases, urgent coronary angiography and subsequent coronary stenting may resolve the situation.

Age-dependent impairment of number and angiogenic potential of adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells.

Background: Adipose tissue-derived stromal cells (ADSCs) are being recognized as a source of stem cells potentially useful for cardiovascular repair. We analysed the abundance and angiogenic activity of adipose tissue-derived progenitor cells (PCs) in elderly patients most likely to benefit from this novel source of stem cells.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-two subjects (aged 68 ± 13 years) with variable degrees of cardiovascular risk underwent abdominal surgery for intercurrent diseases.

Patients with in-stent restenosis have an increased risk of mid-term venous graft failure.

Background: This study was designed to evaluate if patients in whom in-stent restenosis developed had an higher risk of early venous graft failure compared with normal patients.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 120 patients (60 with previous in-stent restenosis and 60 controls) who received a total of 165 complementary venous grafts on the circumflex or right coronary artery system (84 in the restenosis group and 81 in the control group). All patients were prospectively followed-up and underwent reangiography at 5-years follow-up.

Arterial versus venous bypass grafts in patients with in-stent restenosis.

Background: In patients who develop in-stent restenosis, successful revascularization can be difficult to achieve using percutaneous methods. This study was designed to verify the surgical results in this setting and to evaluate the potential beneficial role of arterial bypass conduits.

Methods And Results: Sixty consecutive coronary artery bypass patients with previous in-stent restenosis and 60 control cases were randomly assigned to receive an arterial conduit (either right internal thoracic or radial artery; study group) or a great saphenous vein graft (control group) on the first obtuse marginal artery to complete the surgical revascularization procedure.

Survival after aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis: does left ventricular mass regression have a clinical correlate?

Aim: The effects of post-operative left ventricular mass regression (LVMR) on clinical outcome after aortic valve surgery remains to be established. This study was intended to establish the impact of patient characteristics on post-operative survival in patients referred for aortic valve replacement (AVR), with particular regard to LVMR.

Methods And Results: Two hundred and sixty consecutive cases submitted to aortic valve replacement for valvular stenosis were prospectively followed for a mean of 28+/-9 months.

Effect of target artery location and severity of stenosis on mid-term patency of aorta-anastomosed vs. internal thoracic artery-anastomosed radial artery grafts.

Objective: To verify the effect of location and severity of stenosis of the target coronary artery (TCA) on mid-term patency of aorta-anastomosed vs. internal thoracic artery (ITA)-anastomosed radial artery (RA) graft.

Methods: During a 3-year period 228 consecutive patients received an RA graft at our institution.

Effect of surgical revascularization of a right coronary artery tributary of an infarcted nonischemic territory on the outcome of patients with three-vessel disease: a prospective randomized trial.

Background: We evaluated the in-hospital and long-term effects of surgical grafting of a dominant graftable right coronary artery tributary of an infarcted nonischemic territory in patients with triple-vessel disease who were undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: Of 303 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with 3-vessel coronary disease and a dominant right coronary artery tributary of an infarcted nonischemic territory, 154 were randomized to right coronary artery revascularization and 149 to no right coronary artery grafting. In all cases, standard on-pump surgical myocardial revascularization was performed.