Transition from Open Repair to Endovascular Aneurysm Repair for Rupture Aortic Aneurysms throughout a 16-Year Period of Time in a Single Tertiary Center.

Background: Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is recommended as the first option for both elective and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs) with suitable anatomy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of the gradual adoption of ruptured EVAR (rEVAR) as first option in the management of rAAAs in a reference tertiary center over a 16 year-period.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected clinical data was undertaken, including all patients that were treated for rAAA infrarenal or juxtarenal either with open surgical repair (OSR) or EVAR from 2006-2023.

Wide Awake Open Carpal Tunnel Release: The Effect of Local Anesthetics in the Postoperative Outcome.

 Wide awake open carpal tunnel decompression is a procedure performed under local anesthesia. This study aimed to present the effect of various local anesthetics in peri and postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing this procedure.  A total of 140 patients, with 150 hands involved, underwent carpal tunnel release under local anesthesia.

Patients' Perceptions of Chronic Pain During the Economic Crisis: Lessons Learned from Greece.

Background: Chronic pain is well known to be influenced by various social factors; however, the impact of financial issues on pain has not been extensively studied.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the economic crisis on pain and quality of life in Greek patients suffering from chronic pain.

Study Design: The study employed a prospective, open-label design.

Translation, Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) and Self-Complete Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (S-LANSS) Questionnaires into the Greek Language.

Background: The LANSS and S-LANSS questionnaires represent two widely accepted and validated instruments used to assist the identification of neuropathic pain worldwide.

Objective: The aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the LANSS and S-LANSS questionnaires into the Greek language.

Methods: Forward and backward translations of both questionnaires were performed from the English to Greek language.

Cerebral oximetry in cardiac anesthesia.

Cerebral oximetry based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is increasingly used during the perioperative period of cardiovascular operations. It is a noninvasive technology that can monitor the regional oxygen saturation of the frontal cortex. Current literature indicates that it can stratify patients preoperatively according their risk.

Effect of pre-emptive pregabalin on pain intensity and postoperative morphine consumption after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Background: Postoperative pain is the dominant complaint and the most common cause of delayed discharge after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential of preoperative administration of pregabalin to reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption.

Methods: Fifty American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I and II adult patients with symptomatic gallstone disease scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized into two groups: group I patients (n = 25) were given 600 mg pregabalin per os divided in two doses, the night before surgery and 1 h preoperatively, respectively, while group II patients (n = 25) received a matching to pregabalin placebo at the same scheme.

Impact of intraoperative hypotension on hospital stay in major abdominal surgery.

Purpose: Although the relationship between preoperative risk factors and outcomes has been extensively studied, the effect of intraoperative hemodynamic changes in a patient's postoperative course has been less well defined.

Methods: We designed a prospective observational study to assess the impact of several variables, and especially hypotension, on postoperative outcome. Patients considered eligible for the study, all more than 18 years old, were mentally stable patients scheduled for major abdominal surgery with an expected duration of more than 2 h.

Impact of pregabalin treatment on pain, pain-related sleep interference and general well-being in patients with neuropathic pain: a non-interventional, multicentre, post-marketing study.

Background And Objectives: Numerous controlled clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of pregabalin in the treatment of neuropathic pain. The objectives of the present study were to assess the impact of pregabalin under real-world conditions on pain, pain-related sleep interference and general well-being, and to assess the tolerability and safety of pregabalin in patients diagnosed with neuropathic pain of central or peripheral origin.

Methods: This was a non-interventional, multicentre study in which pregabalin was administered for 8 weeks, at the therapeutic dosages of 150-600 mg/day, to patients with a diagnosis of neuropathic pain.

Deep anaesthesia reduces postoperative analgesic requirements after major urological procedures.

Background And Objective: There is evidence from previous studies that deeper anaesthetic levels reduce postoperative pain along with analgesic requirements. The aim of this study was to confirm this observation during major urological procedures under sevoflurane anaesthesia.

Methods: Seventy ASA I or II patients undergoing radical prostatectomy or nephrectomy were randomly allocated into two groups: the L-BIS group with BIS (bispectral index scale) values kept within a range of 20-30 and the H-BIS group with values within the range of 50-60.

Dose-related shortening of ventricular tachycardia cycle length after administration of the KATP channel opener bimakalim in a 4-day-old chronic infarct anesthetized pig model.

Potassium channel openers are known to act on potassium ATP-dependent channels in cardiac tissue. Such agents may exacerbate acceleration of acute ischemia-induced ventricular repolarization and aggravate arrhythmias. To test whether activation of K( ATP) channels during the healing period of myocardial infarction (MI) can still influence the electrophysiologic properties and the type of inducible arrhythmias, we investigated the effects of bimakalim (BIM) on sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) 4 days after ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in pigs.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy under a multimodal analgesia regime.

Objectives: To evaluate the possibility of performing percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) under a multimodal analgesia regime.

Patients And Methods: During a period of 3 years, 51 patients requiring PCNL were enrolled in the study. All patients received a multimodal analgesic regime that included paracetamol, a COX(2) inhibitor, epidural morphine, and infiltration of the surgical field with local anesthetics.

Assessment of local atrial repolarization in a porcine acetylcholine model of atrial flutter and fibrillation.

Objectives: Progressive electrical alternans followed by conduction block and fibrillatory conduction have been suggested to precede disorganization of atrial flutter (Afl) to atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of the present study was to investigate patterns of local repolarization in the high and low right atrium to determine the site with pronounced propensity to action potential disorganization during Afl and AF.

Methods: Combination pacing/recording contact monophasic action potential (MAP) catheters were utilized to evaluate repolarization from the upper and low atrial endocardium in 16 pigs.

Spinal vs general anesthesia for laparoscopic cholecystectomy: interim analysis of a controlled randomized trial.

Objective: To compare spinal anesthesia with the gold standard general anesthesia for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy in healthy patients.

Design: Controlled randomized trial.

Setting: University hospital.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair under spinal anesthesia: a feasibility study.

Background: Regional anesthesia has not been used as the sole anesthetic procedure in laparoscopic ventral hernia repair due to the fear of potential adverse effects of the pneumoperitoneum. However, there are recent reports on the feasibility of performing laparoscopic procedures, such as cholecystectomy, in fit patients, under spinal anesthesia alone. The current study aimed to detect the feasibility of performing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair under spinal anesthesia.

A simplified technique of RFA (radiofrequency assisted) hepatectomy.

A new technique of dividing the hepatic parenchyma in liver resections is presented. Seven liver resections in six patients were carried out, using a modification of the Radiofrequency assisted hepatectomy technique. The transection zone of the liver was coagulated prior to the division of the parenchyma using a transformed cluster cool-tip Radionics electrode.

Effects of weight loss on QT interval in morbidly obese patients.

Background: Obesity causes structural changes to the heart that may influence its function. Furthermore, morbid obesity is associated with an acquired prolongation of the QTc interval that may lead to potentially hazardous arrhythmias. The present study investigated the effect of body weight loss following vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) on the QTc interval.