Incidence and risk factors of incisional hernia formation following abdominal organ transplantation.

Background: Hernia formation is common following abdominal operations, and transplant patients are at increased risk due to postoperative immunosuppression. The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence of incisional hernia formation following primary abdominal solid organ transplantation and identify clinical risk factors for hernia formation.

Methods: We performed a single-institution retrospective review of a prospectively collected database to evaluate all patients who underwent primary liver, kidney, or pancreas transplantation between 2000 and 2011.

Infrared thermographic profiles of vessel sealing devices on thyroid parenchyma.

Background: During thyroid lobectomy, division of the thyroid parenchyma has traditionally been accomplished using suture ligation. Development of hemostatic techniques in the forms of ultrasonic dissection (UD) and electronic vessel sealing (EVS) have increased the usage of these devices during thyroid operations. We sought to characterize the thermal profile of each of these devices when used to divide the parenchyma of the thyroid gland.

Regional differences in cerebral edema after traumatic brain injury identified by impedance analysis.

Objective: Cerebral edema is a common and potentially devastating sequel of traumatic brain injury. We developed and validated a system capable of tissue impedance analysis, which was found to correlate with cerebral edema.

Methods: Constant sinusoidal current (50 microA), at frequencies from 500 to 5000 Hz, was applied across a bipolar electrode unit superficially placed in a rat brain after traumatic brain injury.