Treatment of hypopigmented burn hypertrophic scars with short-term topical tacrolimus does not lead to repigmentation.

Objectives: Dyschromia is an understudied aspect of hypertrophic scar (HTS). The use of topical tacrolimus has successfully shown repigmentation in vitiligo patients through promotion of melanogenesis and melanocyte proliferation. It was hypothesized that HTSs treated with topical tacrolimus would have increased repigmentation compared to controls.

Endovascular Technique for Ascending Aorta Repair Based on TEVAR and TAVI Procedures.

Purpose: Ascending aorta (AAo) acute pathology still has an open-surgery indication with a high mortality rate associated to cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest. In these cases, the endovascular aortic approach could be an excellent option. The aim of the present study is to detail an optimized technique for the endovascular treatment of AAo diseases, based on thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) and transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures.

Simultaneous affinity maturation and developability enhancement using natural liability-free CDRs.

CDR: complementarity determining region; FACS: fluorescence-activated cell sorting; k: association rate; k: dissociation rate; K: dissociation constant; scFv: single-chain variable fragment; SPR: surface plasmon resonance.

Surgical management of tricuspid regurgitation: a new algorithm to minimise recurrent tricuspid regurgitation.

Introduction: Recurrent tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is frequently observed after cardiac surgery; however, the correct approach remains controversial. We developed an algorithm for action on the tricuspid valve (TV) and conducted a 1-year follow-up study. The aim was to assess the efficacy of the algorithm to minimise residual TR after TV surgery.

Decompressive hemicraniectomy and cranioplasty using subcutaneously preserved autologous bone flaps versus synthetic implants: perioperative outcomes and cost analysis.

Objective: It has not been well-elucidated whether there are advantages to preserving bone flaps in abdominal subcutaneous (SQ) tissue after decompressive hemicraniectomy (DHC), compared to discarding bone flaps. The authors aimed to compare perioperative outcomes and costs for patients undergoing autologous cranioplasty (AC) after DHC with the bone flap preserved in abdominal SQ tissue, and for patients undergoing synthetic cranioplasty (SC).

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients undergoing DHC procedures between January 2017 and July 2021 at two tertiary care institutions.

Does minimally invasive spine surgery improve outcomes in the obese population? A retrospective review of 1442 degenerative lumbar spine surgeries.

Objective: The effect of obesity on outcomes in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) approaches to posterior lumbar surgery is not well characterized. The authors aimed to determine if there was a difference in operative variables and complication rates in obese patients who underwent MIS versus open approaches in posterior spinal surgery, as well as between obese and nonobese patients undergoing MIS approaches.

Methods: A retrospective review of all consecutive patients who underwent posterior lumbar surgery from 2013 to 2016 at a single institution was performed.

Minimally invasive posterior lumbar surgery in the morbidly obese, obese and non-obese populations: A single institution retrospective review.

Background: There is a paucity of information regarding outcomes in minimally invasive surgical (MIS) approaches to posterior lumbar surgery in morbidly obese patients. We seek to determine if there are differences in operative variables and early complication rates in morbidly obese patients undergoing MIS posterior lumbar surgery compared to obese and non-obese patients.

Methods: A single institution retrospective review of patients undergoing MIS posterior lumbar surgery (decompression and/or fusion) between 2013 and 2016 was performed.

Effect of Preoperative Infusion of Levosimendan on Biomarkers of Myocardial Injury and Haemodynamics After Paediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Objective: The aim was to test the hypothesis that preoperative infusion of levosimendan would decrease patients' cardiac biomarker profiles during the immediate postoperative stage (troponin I and B-type natriuretic peptide levels) more efficiently than placebo after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Methods: In a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study, 30 paediatric patients were scheduled for congenital heart disease surgery. 15 patients (50%) received prophylactic levosimendan and 15 patients (50%) received placebo from 12 h before cardiopulmonary bypass to 24 h after surgery.

Intermuscular S-ICD Implantation in Pediatric Patients.

The use of conventional implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in children presents important technical challenges. We present the surgical technique necessary to adapt the subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) implantation designed for adults, to children, including patients weighing less than 20 kg. The implant procedure implies a two-incision technique and interfascial serratus anterior-latissimus dorsi dissection to accommodate the device.

Left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium: Clinical entities, diagnosis and surgical treatment.

Left superior vena cava draining into the left atrium in the absence of coronary sinus is an anomaly that can appear in heterotaxy syndrome and unroofed coronary sinus syndrome. Regardless of the origin of these syndromes, biventricular repair can be done through rerouting by intracardiac procedures or through disconnection-reconnection of the left superior vena cava to the right atrium or right superior vena cava by extracardiac procedures. Different techniques can be used for this purpose, each of which has its own advantages and limitations.

Sexual function, menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Objective: To assess the prevalence of female sexual dysfunction in premenopausal and postmenopausal women with and without hormone replacement therapy (HRT). To determine the relationship between menopause and sexual activity, and the impact of HRT on sexual function.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 231 Colombian-born women, aged 40-62 years.