Fifteen-year, single-center experience with in situ reconstruction for infected native aortic aneurysms.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the survival and freedom from reinfection for patients with infected native aortic aneurysms (INAAs) treated with in situ revascularization (ISR), using either open surgical repair (OSR) or endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), and to identify the predictors of outcome.

Methods: Patients with INAAs who had undergone ISR from January 2005 to December 2020 were included in the present retrospective single-center study. The diagnosis of INAAs required a combination of two or more of the following criteria: (1) clinical presentation, (2) laboratory results, (3) imaging findings, and (4) intraoperative findings.

Retrospective Study Comparing WBC scan and F-FDG PET/CT in Patients with Suspected Prosthetic Vascular Graft Infection.

Objectives: Prosthetic vascular graft infections (PVGIs) are associated with high mortality rates. To improve treatment outcome, an early and definite diagnosis is critical, and current diagnostic criteria are often insufficient. The accuracy of 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]-fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography integrated with computed tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) and white blood cell (WBC) scan for the diagnosis of PVGI were compared.

In vitro Evidence of Improved Antimicrobial Efficacy of Silver and Triclosan Containing Vascular Grafts Compared with Rifampicin Soaked Grafts.

Objectives: The aim was to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of four different grafts: a standard graft (Intergard, IG), an IG graft soaked in rifampicin (IGrif), a silver impregnated graft (Intergard Silver, IGS), and a silver + triclosan impregnated graft (Intergard Synergy, IGSy).

Methods: This was a seven day in vitro study. The IG, IGrif, IGS, and IGSy grafts were each contaminated separately with the following microorganisms: Staphylococcus epidermidis, Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans from both clinical and American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) origins.

Comparison of Genus Specific PCR and Culture with or without Sonication for Microbiological Diagnosis of Vascular Graft Infection.

Objectives: Vascular graft infections (VGIs) are severe and require prolonged adequate antimicrobial therapy. However, up to 45% of conventional cultures are negative. Sonication and genus specific PCRs for microbiological diagnosis of VGI was evaluated.

Bundle of care for blunt chest trauma patients improves analgesia but increases rates of intensive care unit admission: A retrospective case-control study.

Introduction: This single-centre retrospective case-control study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary clinical pathway for blunt chest trauma patients admitted in emergency department (ED).

Patients And Methods: All consecutive blunt chest trauma patients with more than 3 rib fractures and no indication of mechanical ventilation were compared to a retrospective cohort over two 24-month periods, before and after the introduction of the bundle of care. Improvement of analgesia was the main outcome investigated in this study.

Dynamic arterial elastance obtained using arterial signal does not predict an increase in arterial pressure after a volume expansion in the operating room.

Introduction: Dynamic arterial elastance (Eadyn) is defined as the ratio between pulse pressure variations (PPV) and stroke volume variations (SVV). Eadyn has been proposed to predict an increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) after volume expansion with conflicting results. The aim of the present study was to test the reliability of Eadyn in hypotensive patients (MAP<65mmHg) in the operating room (OR).

Forced vital capacity assessment for risk stratification of blunt chest trauma patients in emergency settings: A preliminary study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the performance of Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) for prediction of secondary respiratory complications in blunt chest trauma patients.

Methods: During a 15-month period, all consecutive blunt chest trauma patients admitted in our emergency intensive care unit with more than 3 rib fractures were eligible, unless they required mechanical ventilation in the prehospital or emergency settings. FVC was measured at admission and at emergency discharge after therapeutic interventions.

Impact of Systemic Vascular Resistance on the Accuracy of the Pulsioflex Device.

Background: The accuracy of currently available devices using pulse contour analysis without external calibration for cardiac index (CI) estimation is negatively impacted by hyperdynamic states, low systemic vascular resistance (SVR), and abrupt changes in SVR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a new device, the Pulsioflex (Pulsion Medical System), in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Methods: Thirty consecutive patients scheduled for liver transplantation were included.

Automated, continuous and non-invasive assessment of pulse pressure variations using CNAP system.

Non-invasive respiratory variations in arterial pulse pressure using infrared-plethysmography (PPV) are able to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients. However, they cannot be continuously monitored. The present study evaluated a new algorithm allowing continuous measurements of PPV (PPV) (CNSystem, Graz, Austria).

Fungal complications after Candida preservation fluid contamination in liver transplant recipients.

Donor-derived fungal infections can be associated with severe complications in transplant recipients. Donor-derived candidiasis has been described in kidney transplant recipients where contamination of the preservation fluid (PF) was a commonly proposed source. In liver transplantation, these fungal infections have been less explored.

Should white blood cell scan be replaced by (18)F-FDG PET-CT in the diagnosis of prosthetic vascular graft infection?

Diagnosis of prosthetic vascular graft infection (PVGI) is a clinical challenge requiring accurate diagnostic methods for their optimal management. A 65-year-old patient with suspected PVGI was explored by fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography ((18)F-FDG PET-CT) for pretreatment staging. Standard imaging was unrevealing but PET images showed multiple foci with increased uptake suggesting prosthetic infection.

18F-FDG PET-CT in suspected prosthetic vascular graft infection.

Background: Diagnosis of prosthetic vascular graft infections is a clinical challenge, and surgical therapy is associated with comorbidity. Therefore, accurate diagnostic methods are required for their optimal management.

Methods: A 61-year-old-patient presented with erysipelas of the right lower limb 7 months after receiving a hybrid femoropopliteal bypass composed of a saphenous vein distally and external supported polytetrafluoroethylene proximally.

Management of bleeding and transfusion during liver transplantation before and after the introduction of a rotational thromboelastometry-based algorithm.

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) remains a potentially hemorrhagic procedure. Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) is a point-of-care device used to monitor coagulation during OLT. Whether it allows blood loss and transfusions to be reduced during OLT remains controversial.

Evaluation of stroke volume variations obtained with the pressure recording analytic method.

Objective: To investigate whether stroke volume variations obtained with the pressure recording analytic method can predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients with circulatory failure.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Surgical intensive care unit of a university hospital.

The ability of pulse pressure variations obtained with CNAP™ device to predict fluid responsiveness in the operating room.

Background: Respiratory-induced pulse pressure variations obtained with an arterial line (ΔPP(ART)) indicate fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients. The Infinity® CNAP™ SmartPod® (Dräger Medical AG & Co. KG, Lübeck, Germany) provides noninvasive continuous beat-to-beat arterial blood pressure measurements and a near real-time pressure waveform.