Characterization of physical and biodegradation properties of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate/sepiolite nanocomposites.

The pristine sepiolite was treated with the 3-aminopropyl triethoxy silane (APTES). The APTES grafted sepiolite (APTES-G-SP) was used to develop the poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV)/sepiolite nanocomposite films by the solution-casting method. Scanning electron micrographs showed that the APTES-G-SP fibers were well embedded in the polymer matrix.

REVISED TRAUMA SCORE AS A PREDICTOR OF OUTCOME IN TRAUMA CASES: EXPERIENCES AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN.

Background: Trauma scores help classify trauma patients, and assist in clinical decision-making. The Revised Trauma Score (RTS) is widely used internationally but its effectiveness as a tool for predicting outcome in paediatric trauma patients in our setting, has yet to be established, mainly owing to lack of use. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of RTS as a predictor of outcome in paediatric trauma patients in Pakistan.

Impact of gender and body surface area on outcome after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: A gender-neutral threshold aneurysm diameter (AD) of more than 5.5 cm for surgical intervention in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) ignores the fact that women have a smaller baseline AD. We hypothesized that women have a greater AD relative to body surface area (BSA) at the time of surgery and that this worsens outcome.

Preemptive ultrasound-guided paravertebral block and immediate postoperative lung function.

Background And Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of preemptive ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block versus intercostal block on postoperative respiratory function and pain control in patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Subjects: 50 consecutive patients undergoing video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery.

Method: A prospective cohort of patients who received either ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block immediately before the procedure or intercostal block placed by the surgeon at the end of the procedure were studied.

Endovascular repair of a right-sided aortic arch aneurysm and tracheal injury.

Implications of an aortic arch endoprosthesis on tracheal anatomy are underrecognized, especially given their close anatomic relationship. We present a unique case of an elderly woman who suffered an iatrogenic tracheal injury due to both an aberrant aortic arch anatomy and a thoracic endoprosthesis.