Salvage options after stent collapse in the thoracic aorta.

The endograft was originally developed to repair aneurismal disease of the infra-renal aorta and has since realised many other applications, including the treatment of arterial trauma. Traumatic transection of the thoracic aorta is a condition associated with a high mortality and affected patients often have multiple injuries. Endovascular repair of thoracic transection is an attractive option in those patients for whom open surgical repair would be highly dangerous and other groups have reported early technical success.

Randomized clinical trial comparing two mastectomy techniques.

Background: The unit was considering the routine use of diathermy scissors for standard mastectomy surgery. We therefore aimed to assess scientifically the outcome of patients following the use of this instrument in their operation before accepting it as a routine procedure.

Methods: A single blind randomized control trial compared the outcome of patients undergoing simple mastectomy using either the standard scalpel blade technique or the bipolar cutting scissors technique.