New method of tunnelling for omental transposition in the treatment of a complex radionecrotic groin ulcer.

Omental transposition is often used for reconstruction of soft tissue in the groin. However, the potential for incisional hernia is a relative contraindication. We report the cure of a groin ulcer with omental transposition using a new method of tunnelling to avoid herniation.

Intramyocardial and intracoronary basic fibroblast growth factor in porcine hibernating myocardium: a comparative study.

Objective: Therapeutic angiogenesis is an alternative method of revascularization for end-stage coronary artery disease. We determined the effects of intramyocardial and intracoronary basic fibroblast growth factor 2 on myocardial blood flow and function in a porcine model of hibernating myocardium.

Methods: Twenty-four mini-swine with 90% left circumflex artery stenosis and documented hibernating myocardium by positron emission tomography and dobutamine stress echocardiography were randomized to intramyocardial basic fibroblast growth factor 2 at 0.

Basic fibroblast growth factor is upregulated in hibernating myocardium.

Background: Ischemia is known to be a potent stimulus for the upregulation of angiogenic growth factors, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). While previous investigations have shown that many angiogenic growth factors are upregulated in animal models of myocardial ischemia, the models used are limited in their ability to produce stable ischemia beyond a few weeks. Our laboratory uses a stable model of hibernating myocardium where later time points may be examined.

Robotically assisted versus conventional freehand technique during beating heart anastomoses of left internal thoracic artery to left anterior descending artery.

Background: Although robotically assisted coronary arterial anastomoses are being performed clinically, the short-term and long-term quality and integrity of the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to left anterior descending artery (LAD) anastomosis remains unknown. The goal of this study was to perform a histologic and angiographic assessment of porcine beating heart LITA to LAD anastomoses using either robotic assistance or a conventional freehand technique.

Methods: Twelve pigs underwent beating heart LITA to LAD anastomoses using either the robotically assisted (n = 6) or conventional freehand techniques (n = 6).