Editor's Choice - Relevance of Infarct Size, Timing of Surgery, and Peri-operative Management for Non-ischaemic Cerebral Complications After Carotid Endarterectomy.

Objective: To assess the incidence of post-operative non-ischaemic cerebral complications as a pivotal outcome parameter with respect to size of cerebral infarction, timing of surgery, and peri-operative management in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected single centre CEA registry data. Consecutive patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis were subjected to standard patch endarterectomy.

Effects Of Gelatine-Coated Vascular Grafts On Human Neutrophils.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to investigate the immune-modulatory potential of commercially available PTFE and polyester vascular grafts with and without gelatine-coating. The biomaterial-cell-interaction was characterized by changes of established parameters such as PMN-related receptors/mediators, phagocytosis potential and capacity as well as the effect of an additional plasma-dependent modulation.

Material And Methods: By means of a standardized experimental in vitro model, various vascular graft material (PTFE/polyester/uncoated/gelatine-coated) was used for incubation with or without plasma and co-culturing with human neutrophile granulocytes (PMN) followed by analysis of representative receptors and mediators (CD62L, CD11b, CXCR2, fMLP-R, IL-8, Elastase, LTB4).

First-in-man results of a novel vascular graft coated with resorbable polymer for aortic reconstructions--a multicenter, non-randomized safety study.

Objectives: The purpose of this "first-in-man" study was to investigate the safety of a novel vascular polyester prosthesis coated with a resorbable polymer and free of any animal-based coating agents such as gelatin or collagen.

Methods: In a nonrandomized first-in-man multicenter safety study, the frequency of perigraft seroma (PGS) as the primary endpoint was studied in consecutive patients undergoing aortic reconstructions. The follow-up control to study the primary endpoint was intended at 3 months under routine clinical conditions.

Interactions of neutrophils with silver-coated vascular polyester grafts.

Background: In reconstructive vascular surgery, infection is one of the most feared complications because of the high mortality. While the antimicrobial effect of a silver-coated endoprosthesis has been proven in experimental trials, there are no reports on its interactions with granulocytes, the first effector cells in general inflammation and in infection.

Materials And Methods: Therefore, we investigated whether silver coating of vascular polyester grafts affects receptor expression, mediator release, and functions of human neutrophils relevant for microbicidal activity and the wound-healing process.

The influence of polymorbidity, revascularization, and wound therapy on the healing of arterial ulceration.

Objective: An ulcer categorized as Fontaine's stage IV represents a chronic wound, risk factor of arteriosclerosis, and co-morbidities which disturb wound healing. Our objective was to analyze wound healing and to assess potential factors affecting the healing process.

Methods: 199 patients were included in this 5-year study.

Inadvertend catch of a factor VIII rich thrombus with a femoral sheath during cardiac catheterization.

The role of elevated factor VIII as a risk factor for thromboembolic events during atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been explored. Here, we present a case of a white Caucasian male with paroxysmal AF suffering from thromboembolic complications in the presence of persistently increased factor VIII levels. Immunohistological examination revealed a granulocyte-rich cardiac embolus with large deposits of factor VIII.

Effect of intraperitoneal application of an endotoxin inhibitor on survival time in a laparoscopic model of peritonitis in rats.

Gram-negative sepsis due to fecal peritonitis is a hazardous disease with a high percentage having a lethal course. The inflammatory effects are induced by endotoxin release. We performed this study to evaluate the potential of direct intraperitoneal application of an endotoxin inhibitor in a laparoscopic peritonitis model in rats.

Vascular graft infections: in vitro and in vivo investigations of a new vascular graft with long-term protection.

We investigated a polyester vascular prosthesis (PET) coated with elemental silver (SC). Measurement of silver release over a period of 52 weeks by means of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry of PET with (PET-G) and without (PET-N) gelatine impregnation revealed a silver release on the first day of 1.2 +/- 0.

Comparison of the ovine and porcine animal models for biocompatibility testing of vascular prostheses.

Objective: Evaluation of the pig and sheep models for biocompatibility investigations of vascular prostheses (VP).

Design: Comparative analysis of animal experimental investigations involving two different animal models.

Materials And Methods: Commercially available polyester vascular prostheses (PET-VP) were implanted into two different animal models (infrarenal porcine aorta and ovine carotid artery).