Modified Total Laryngectomy With Strap-Flap Technique in a Patient With Bovine Aortic Arch Anomaly: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Background: Total laryngectomy is an essential surgical intervention in the management of advanced laryngeal carcinoma. However, anatomical variations such as the bovine arch can complicate this procedure. The atypical branching pattern of the bovine arch may position major vessels closer to the tracheostomy site, increasing the risk of tracheo-arterial fistulization.

Quantitative and functional changes in platelets and fibrinogen following cardiopulmonary by-pass in children.

Introduction: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes coagulopathy, increasing the risk of postoperative bleeding and mortality. The underlying causes of post-CPB coagulopathy and the factors associated with its occurrence are not yet fully understood. This study assesses platelet and fibrinogen concentration and function following CPB in children with congenital heart diseases (CHD).

Early feasibility study with an implantable near-infrared spectroscopy sensor for glucose, ketones, lactate and ethanol.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and performance of an implantable near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy sensor for multi-metabolite monitoring of glucose, ketones, lactate, and ethanol.

Research Design And Methods: This is an early feasibility study (GLOW, NCT04782934) including 7 participants (4 with type 1 diabetes (T1D), 3 healthy volunteers) in whom the YANG NIR spectroscopy sensor (Indigo) was implanted for 28 days. Metabolic challenges were used to vary glucose levels (40-400 mg/dL, 2.

Impact of diabetes on medical costs in the pre- and postoperative year of lower extremity amputations in Belgium.

Aims: To compare the medical costs of individuals undergoing lower extremity amputation (LEA) in Belgium with those of amputation-free individuals.

Methods: Belgian citizens undergoing LEAs in 2014 were identified. The median costs per capita in euros for the 12 months preceding and following minor and major LEAs were compared with those of matched amputation-free individuals.

Minimally Invasive Surgery in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Where Do We Stand?

In the last two decades, robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) has gained popularity as a minimally invasive surgical (MIS) alternative to multi- and uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). With this approach, the surgeon obviates the known drawbacks of conventional MIS, such as the reduced in-depth perception, hand-eye coordination, and freedom of motion of the instruments. Previous studies have shown that a robotic approach for operable lung cancer has treatment outcomes comparable to other MIS techniques such as multi-and uniportal VATS, but with less blood loss, a lower conversion rate to open surgery, better lymph node dissection rates, and improved ergonomics for the surgeon.

The impact of diabetes on mortality rates after lower extremity amputation.

Objective: To assess the impact of diabetes, amputation level, sex and age on mortality rates after lower extremity amputation (LEA) in Belgium, and to assess temporal trends in one-year survival rates from 2009 to 2018.

Methods: Nationwide data on individuals who underwent minor and major LEA from 2009 to 2018 were collected. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed.

Sex differences in diabetic foot ulcer severity and outcome in Belgium.

Background: Sex differences are increasingly recognized to play an important role in the epidemiology, treatment and outcomes of many diseases. This study aims to describe differences between sexes in patient characteristics, ulcer severity and outcome after 6 months in individuals with a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).

Methods: A total of 1,771 patients with moderate to severe DFU participated in a national prospective, multicenter cohort study.

OrBITS: label-free and time-lapse monitoring of patient derived organoids for advanced drug screening.

Background: Patient-derived organoids are invaluable for fundamental and translational cancer research and holds great promise for personalized medicine. However, the shortage of available analysis methods, which are often single-time point, severely impede the potential and routine use of organoids for basic research, clinical practise, and pharmaceutical and industrial applications.

Methods: Here, we developed a high-throughput compatible and automated live-cell image analysis software that allows for kinetic monitoring of organoids, named Organoid Brightfield Identification-based Therapy Screening (OrBITS), by combining computer vision with a convolutional network machine learning approach.

Biomarkers for Chronic Lung Allograft Dysfunction: Ready for Prime Time?

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) remains a major hurdle impairing lung transplant outcome. Parallel to the better clinical identification and characterization of CLAD and CLAD phenotypes, there is an increasing urge to find adequate biomarkers that could assist in the earlier detection and differential diagnosis of CLAD phenotypes, as well as disease prognostication. The current status and state-of-the-art of biomarker research in CLAD will be discussed with a particular focus on radiological biomarkers or biomarkers found in peripheral tissue, bronchoalveolar lavage' and circulating blood' in which significant progress has been made over the last years.

Temporal trends in major, minor and recurrent lower extremity amputations in people with and without diabetes in Belgium from 2009 to 2018.

Aims: This study assessed temporal trends in the incidence of lower extremity amputations (LEA) in Belgium from 2009 to 2018, and subsequent secondary amputation rates.

Methods: Nationwide data on LEA were collected. Sex- and age-adjusted annual incidence rates were calculated.

Safety and Feasibility of Lung Cancer Surgery under the COVID-19 Circumstance.

The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has forced healthcare providers worldwide to adapt their practices. Our understanding of the effects of COVID-19 has increased exponentially since the beginning of the pandemic. Data from large-scale, international registries has provided more insight regarding risk factors for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections and has allowed us to delineate specific subgroups of patients that have higher risks for severe complications.

The role of the surgeon in the management of oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer: a literature review.

Objective: In this review, we aim to summarize the most recent data on the surgical management of oligometastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: Approximately 60-70% of all patients with NSCLC initially present with advanced stages of cancer at time of diagnosis. These patients are generally treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these modalities.

ABCC8 variants in MODY12: Review of the literature and report of a case with severe complications.

More than 1000 variants of the ATP-binding cassette transporter subfamily C member 8 (ABCC8) gene have been reported in neonatal diabetes mellitus. Up to now only 55 ABCC8 variants were associated with Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young 12 (MODY12). We present a c.

Pulmonary metastasectomy in colorectal carcinoma.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It is estimated that 50% of all patients with CRC develop metastases, most commonly in the liver and the lung. Lung metastases are seen in approximately 10-15% of all patients with CRC.

Evaluation of Temporal Artery Duplex Ultrasound for Diagnosis of Temporal Arteritis.

Background: Temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis is a form of systemic inflammatory vasculitis closely associated with polymyalgia rheumatica. It may have serious systemic, neurologic, and ophthalmic consequences as it may lead to impaired vision and blindness. Definitive diagnosis is made after histopathologic analysis of a superficial temporal artery (TA) biopsy, which requires a small surgical procedure often under local anesthesia.

The clicking chest: what exactly did Hamman hear? A case report of a left-sided pneumothorax.

Background: Hamman's sign is a rare phenomenon. Louis Hamman described this pathognomonic clicking chest noise in association with pneumomediastinum in 1937. This typical noise can also be present in left-sided pneumothorax.

Reversible Calcineurin Inhibitor-associated Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy in a Lung Transplant Recipient: A Case Report.

Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) are regarded as a corner stone in immunosuppressive therapy after solid organ transplantation. However, neurotoxicity is a common side effect of CNIs, resulting in a wide range of neurological symptoms such as headache, tremor and seizures. In this case report, we describe a patient who developed severe motor and sensory neuron dysfunction related to CNIs after bilateral lung transplantation, which resolved after halting CNI and switching to a mammalian Target of Rapamycin-inhibitor.

Evaluation of mediastinoscopy in mediastinal lymph node staging for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of video-assisted cervical mediastinoscopy (VACM) in the staging of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the Antwerp University Hospital with a focus on test effectiveness indicators, morbidity and unforeseen pN2 results.

Methods: All consecutive VACM workups of cases of NSCLC performed between January 2010 and December 2015 were included to assess overall test quality and effectiveness. Quality assurance was performed in accordance with the recommendations of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) where appropriate.

Stent-grafts are the best way to treat complex in-stent restenosis lesions in the superficial femoral artery: 24-month results from a multicenter randomized trial.

Background: This clinical trial aims to evaluate the outcome (up to 24-months) of the treatment of in-stent restenotic or reoccluded lesions in the femoropopliteal arteries, by comparing the treatment of the GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with PROPATEN Bioactive Surface (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) with a standard PTA treatment.

Combining the Passeo-18 Lux Drug-Coated Balloon and the Pulsar-18 Bare Metal Stent: 12- and 24-Month Outcomes of the BIOLUX 4EVER Investigator-Initiated Trial.

Purpose: To report the outcomes after treating stenotic or occluded femoropopliteal lesions with a drug-coated balloon (DCB) followed by the implantation of a thin-strut self-expanding bare metal stent in the BIOLUX 4EVER trial ( identifier NCT02211664).

Materials And Methods: The prospective, multicenter, physician-initiated BIOLUX 4-EVER trial was conducted at 5 centers in Belgium and enrolled 120 patients (mean age 70.9±10.

Cholesterol granuloma mimicking an anterior mediastinal tumor - a case report.

There are many different types of mediastinal masses, which makes it challenging to diagnose them. Furthermore, the clinical presentation can range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. We present the case of a 68-year-old male with an incidental finding of a tumor located in the anterior mediastinum.

Use of Robotics in Surgical Treatment of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer.

Robotic-assisted videothoracoscopic surgery (R-VATS) has become increasingly popular and widely used since its introduction and is nowadays considered a standard treatment approach in many centres for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. R-VATS was initially developed to overcome the drawbacks of VATS by offering surgeons more flexibility and three-dimensional optics during thoracoscopic surgery. The effectiveness of R-VATS lobectomy regarding oncological outcomes, morbidity, mortality, and postoperative quality of life (QoL) has been shown in an increasing number of studies.

Malnutrition and its relation with diabetic foot ulcer severity and outcome: a review.

Background: Malnutrition has a detrimental effect on wound healing; hence, it might influence the outcome in people with a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).The aim of this manuscript is to overview studies that describe the prevalence of malnutrition in DFU patients and assess the relation between malnutrition, DFU severity, and outcome.

Methods: A literature review was performed.