Endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting: the quest continues part two.

Background: Although randomized trials on carotid artery stenting (CAS) could not establish its equivalence to carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with symptomatic carotid disease, CAS is rapidly evolving. Data on long-term outcome after CAS from randomized trials have now become available and ongoing, prospectively held registries frequently publish their results in increasing numbers of patients. We have therefore reviewed the currently available literature and provide an update of our previous article on this topic.

Relation between B-mode gray-scale median and clinical features of carotid stenosis vulnerability.

Background: Vulnerability of the carotid plaque might be useful as a predictor for ischemic stroke risk. The gray-scale median (GSM) of the carotid plaque at B-mode imaging has been described as an objective tool to quantify vulnerability. However, its use is disputed in the published literature.

[From CVA or TIA to carotid surgery: the clinical treatment course for patients with symptomatic carotid disease could be shorter].

Objective: To gain insight into the duration and the various components of the clinical treatment course for patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis, in order to improve the care provided to these patients.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: All patients who had undergone a carotid intervention for significant symptomatic carotid stenosis from 2001 to 2011 were included.

Protection of stapled colorectal anastomoses with a biodegradable device: the C-Seal feasibility study.

Background: A colorectal anastomotic leak can be life-threatening. We have assessed the feasibility of a new intraluminal biodegradable bypass device that we designed to avoid anastomotic leakage and the necessity of a temporary stoma.

Methods: Fifteen patients underwent colorectal surgery.

Overestimation of contralateral internal carotid artery stenosis before ipsilateral surgical endarterectomy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate a possible overestimation of the degree of contralateral carotid artery stenosis by duplex in patients with significant bilateral carotid stenoses who are to undergo carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed of all patients undergoing CEA in our center over a period of 11 years. Pre- and postoperative duplex ultrasonography measurements of peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end diastolic velocity (EDV) were compared and used to classify the degree of stenosis.

The gradual onset brain death model: a relevant model to study organ donation and its consequences on the outcome after transplantation.

Organs used for transplantation are usually derived from heart-beating brain dead donors. However, brain death is known to have negative effects on donor organ quality, previously studied using a difficult to control sudden onset experimental model. We have now developed a reproducible gradual onset brain death model in rats without requiring inotropic support.

Preservation of steatotic livers: a comparison between cold storage and machine perfusion preservation.

Liver grafts are frequently discarded due to steatosis. Steatotic livers can be classified as suboptimal and deteriorate rapidly during hypothermic static preservation, often resulting in graft nonfunction. Hypothermic machine perfusion (MP) has been introduced for preservation of donor livers instead of cold storage (CS), resulting in superior preservation outcomes.