Risk Factors Associated With Allogenic Blood Transfusion in Primary Infant Cranial Vault Remodeling.

Introduction: Cranial vault remodeling is commonly associated with high blood loss and high transfusion rates. Blood management protocols have recently been developed to minimize blood loss and reduce transfusion requirements. We sought to determine risk factors associated with blood product transfusion for infants undergoing primary cranial vault remodeling after the implementation of a blood management protocol.

Method of Breast Reconstruction Determines Venous Thromboembolism Risk Better Than Current Prediction Models.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk models including the Davison risk score and the 2005 Caprini risk assessment model have been validated in plastic surgery patients. However, their utility and predictive value in breast reconstruction has not been well described. We sought to determine the utility of current VTE risk models in this population and the VTE rate observed in various methods of breast reconstruction.

Robotic harvest of the rectus abdominis muscle: a preclinical investigation and case report.

In an attempt to decrease donor-site morbidity for rectus abdominis muscle harvest during free tissue transfer, we developed a technique of minimally invasive harvest. The da Vinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA) was used in two cadavers for dissection and harvest of four rectus abdominis muscles. After the cadaver dissections were performed, the technique was used in a 30-year-old woman to harvest the left rectus abdominis muscle for free tissue transfer to a lower extremity defect.

Open vs. endovascular repair of isolated iliac artery aneurysms: A 12-year experience.

Objective: To examine contemporary operative techniques and outcomes for repair of isolated iliac artery aneurysms.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who underwent repair of an isolated iliac artery aneurysm from February 1995 to June 2007. Mycotic aneurysms and patients with concurrent infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms greater than 3.

Predictors of mortality after muscle flap advancement for deep sternal wound infections.

Background: Deep sternal wound infection is a devastating complication following median sternotomy, with mortality rates reported from 1.0 to 36 percent. Several studies have evaluated the risk factors for the development of a deep sternal wound infection, but the factors predicting survival after debridement and muscle flap advancement are not well known.

Low-fidelity exercises for basic surgical skills training and assessment.

Background: The goal of this study was to develop and validate low-fidelity exercises for basic surgical skills training and assessment.

Methods: Five low-fidelity exercises were developed and administered to 40 participants. Participants were classified as novice or proficient based on level of training.