Background: Regular physical activities have a positive effect on the muscular skeletal system but overstrenuous exercise may be different. Transiently suppressed bone formation and increased bone resorption after participation in a 246-km ultradistance race has been demonstrated.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze effects of the Spartathlon race on novel musculoskeletal markers.
Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg
September 2013
Objectives: A prospective randomized multicentre trial was performed to analyse the efficacy of a vest (Posthorax support vest®) to prevent sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery, and to identify risk factors.
Methods: From September 2007 to March 2010, 2539 patients undergoing cardiac surgery via median sternotomy were prospectively randomized into those who received a Posthorax® vest and those who did not. Patients were instructed to wear the vest postoperatively for 24 h a day for at least 6 weeks; the duration of follow-up was 90 days.
Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the alterations of the aorta by using a new combined surgical and endovascular technique for the treatment of aortic type A dissections. The diameter of the descending aorta, the implanted stent graft, and the false lumen were evaluated.
Methods: Between August 2005 and February 2009, 14 patients (aged 49 +/- 13 years; 11 men, 3 women) with type A dissection in the aorta were operated on the thoracic aorta by the frozen elephant trunk technique.
Sternal instability, dehiscence and mediastinitis are major causes of morbidity and mortality in cardiac surgery. The aim of this analysis is to determine the effect of a Posthorax support vest (Epple Inc, Vienna, Austria) after median sternotomy. One thousand five hundred and sixty cases were included in a prospective randomized multicenter trial.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Sternum infection remains one of the primary causes of postoperative morbidity and mortality after median sternotomy. We report the clinical efficacy for primary reinforcement of the sternum with a new design of thorax support vest.
Methods: A prospective randomized study including 455 patients was started in September 2007 to evaluate the effectiveness of the Posthorax sternum vest (Epple Inc.
The aim of the present case-control study was to assess patients with acute neurological symptoms requiring urgent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and compare the outcome of the procedure in this group with that achieved in stable patients. Twenty-eight CEAs were performed in patients with an acute neurological deficit and 302 in stable patients from December 2006 to April 2008. Those selected for urgent surgery fulfilled the following criteria: acute onset of hemispheric neurological symptoms or crescendo TIAs, significant carotid pathology, the absence of cerebral hemorrhage, uncompromised vigilance, and stable cardiopulmonary conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Based on a previous randomized study showing significantly superior patency rates for in vitro endothelialized expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) grafts we investigated whether it was feasible for a nontertiary institution to offer autologous in vitro endothelialization to all elective infrainguinal bypass patients who had no suitable saphenous vein available.
Methods: Over a period of 15 years, 310 out of 318 consecutive nonacute patients (age 64.7 +/- 8.
Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg
October 2008
The modality of treatment and the appropriate time point to treat type II endoleaks after endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (EVAR) remain controversial issues. The purpose of the present study was to assess the efficacy of translumbar embolization of type II endoleaks after endovascular repair of aortic aneurysm repair. Eighty-four consecutive patients after EVAR were analyzed for the onset of type II endoleaks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We evaluated the application of a new combined surgical and endovascular technique for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. The technique is used to treat extensive aortic disease by a single-stage procedure. Surgical outcomes and follow-up data are summarized and analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a life-threatening emergency after oropharyngeal infection. The diagnosis must be established rapidly. DNM is associated with septic shock and respiratory insufficiency.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur J Cardiothorac Surg
February 2007
This report describes the use of a new combined surgical and endovascular treatment for chronic type A aortic dissection after Cabrol operation. Intraoperative antegrade stenting of the descending aorta combined with distal ascending aorta and aortic arch repair was performed using the E-vita open endoluminal stentgraft. The stentgraft was deployed under direct vision into the true lumen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClinical in vitro endothelialization has been shown to increase the patency of synthetic vascular grafts. The shear stress resistance of the cultured autologous endothelium represents a crucial cornerstone of the concept. We investigated whether an enrichment of the precoating matrix with adhesion sites can augment endothelial cell attachment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is a well-known risk factor for right ventricular failure after orthotopic cardiac transplantation. The influence of preoperative transpulmonary pressure gradient (TPG) and PVR on post-transplant 30 days mortality was evaluated. To analyze the response of PVR and TPG to cardiac transplantation, we analyzed 718 adult patients undergoing primary cardiac transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
January 2005
Background: A new annuloplasty device, the Colvin-Galloway Future Band, has been developed to allow simple and safe mitral valve repair surgery. Here we report its clinical use and the clinical results after a short-term, 2-year follow-up.
Methods: We assessed the performance of this new device in 40 consecutive patients (55% male; mean age, 68.
Stabilization of fibrin-chondrocyte constructs with fibrinolytical inhibitors has been shown to be a feasible method for the reconstruction of cartilage in vitro. In this study, the method was tested in vivo. Autologous cultures were used to form stabilized fibrin-chondrocyte constructs that were injected into auricular cartilage defects of rabbits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatient-related risk factors for the growth of autologous endothelial cells were assessed in a clinical series of 100 consecutive recipients of in vitro endothelialized prosthetic vascular grafts. For all patients, the indication for bypass operation was arteriosclerotic occlusive disease of the distal arteries. Endothelial cells were harvested from a small piece of subdermal vein and cultured in medium containing 20% of autologous serum.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The long-term results of ePTFE grafts are particularly poor in crural reconstructions. We report on a novel surgical technique, whereby both run-off and anastomotic mismatches are concomitantly addressed.
Patients And Methods: Short segments of vein grafts (5-15 cm in length) were used to bridge two crural artery segments.
Background: Over the past 17 years, our group has developed and clinically applied an in vitro endothelialization procedure whereby infrainguinal expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) prostheses are confluently lined with cultured autologous endothelial cells before implantation. After a successful randomized pilot study from 1989 to 1993, the procedure was adopted for routine operations.
Methods: Since June 1993, 153 endothelialized ePTFE grafts were implanted in the infrainguinal position in 136 patients (102 above knee (AK) and 51 below knee (BK), 89 men and 47 women, mean age 64.
Purpose: We analyzed operations performed at our institution retrospectively for recurrent carotid artery stenosis to assess the indication for surgery. We also assessed the techniques used for these operations.
Patients And Methods: From January 1992 to December 1998 1210 carotid endarterectomies were performed.
Background: Clinical in vitro endothelialization was assessed for its ability to improve the long-term patency of prosthetic femoropopliteal bypass grafts.
Methods: Between June 1989 and May 1998, 100 patients received 113 in vitro endothelialized expanded polytetrafluoroethylene grafts (ePTFE). Bilateral implantations were performed in 13 patients.
Sci Total Environ
September 1999
Emission inventories are a tool to monitor the development of the emission situation in urban areas. Therefore, periodic updates of the emission inventory are required. An update of an emission inventory is always combined with new or improved emission factors and models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Plast Surg
June 1999
Cartilage replacement is a challenging issue in reconstructive surgery. In the past few years, tissue engineering has been tested as a means of cartilage reconstruction. Tissue engineering of cartilage depends on the use of adequate polymers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAfter more than 20 years of autologous endothelial cell transplantation, controversy is slowly giving way to consensus. The ongoing discussion regarding the optimal methods of creating an endothelial layer on synthetic vascular prostheses has been replaced by the realization that both in vitro endothelialization with cultured venous endothelial cells and mixed microvascular sodding result in equilibrated luminal tissue layers covered by a persistant endothelium. Clinical trials with almost 200 in vitro endothelialized prostheses are in their 10th year, and patency results are distinctly better than in nonendothelialized prostheses, particularly in below-the-knee grafts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF1. The role of the endothelium in the vasomotor control of human veins in the lower extremity is little understood. We tested the hypothesis that the production of relaxing and contracting factors is altered in endothelial cells from varicose saphenous veins which may predispose to the decreased vessel tone observed in primary varicosis.
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