Concomitant frozen elephant trunk procedure and pulmonary embolectomy.

The antegrade stented (frozen) elephant trunk procedure and pulmonary embolectomy are complex cardiac surgical operations for extensive aortic and pulmonary arterial disease, respectively. We report the first known case of concomitant antegrade stented elephant trunk and pulmonary embolectomy in order to highlight pre- and intra-operative management strategies for this uncommon disease combination.

Monitoring molecular changes induced by ischemia/reperfusion in human free muscle flap tissue samples.

Background: Our current knowledge of the pathophysiological sequelae of ischemia or reperfusion (I/R) injury in free tissue transfer in reconstructive surgery is based on data obtained in animal experiments. In this study, we investigated the histologic and molecular changes after 11 free microsurgical muscle transfers in human muscle tissue.

Methods: Biopsies of free muscle flap tissue were taken immediately before clipping of the pedicle and 5 days after ischemia and successful microanastomosis and restoration of the blood flow.