A variant technique for the surgical treatment of left ventricular aneurysms.

Objective: To present a surgical variant technique to repair left ventricular aneurysms.

Methods: After anesthesia, cardiopulmonary bypass, and myocardial protection with hyperkalemic tepic blood cardioplegia: 1) The left ventricle is opened through the infarct and an endocardial encircling suture is placed at the transitional zone between the scarred and normal tissue; 2) Next, the scar tissue is circumferentially plicated with deep stitches using the same suture thread, taking care to eliminate the entire septal scar; 3) Then, a second encircling suture is placed, completing the occlusion of the aneurysm, and; 4) Finally, the remaining scar tissue is oversewn with an invaginating suture, to ensure hemostasis. Myocardium revascularization is performed after correction of the left ventricle aneurysm.

On-pump versus off-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery: what do the evidence show?

The main purpose of the off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery is to reduce morbidity and mortality due cardiopulmonary bypass. However, even though many studies have shown that off-pump coronary artery bypass is feasible and provides hospital morbidity and mortality similar to the on-pump coronary artery bypass graft surgery, probably better in some aspects, its long-term results have been questioned, since some trials have shown reduced survival with off-pump coronary artery bypass. It is likely that incomplete revascularization and/or poor graft patency with off-pump coronary artery bypass probably are responsible for such unfavorable outcome.

Curbing inflammation in the ischemic heart disease.

A modern concept considers acute coronary syndrome as an autoinflammatory disorder. From the onset to the healing stage, an endless inflammation has been presented with complex, multiple cross-talk mechanisms at the molecular, cellular, and organ levels. Inflammatory response following acute myocardial infarction has been well documented since the 1940s and 1950s, including increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, the C-reactive protein analysis, and the determination of serum complement.

Synchronous oral paracoccidioidomycosis and esophageal carcinoma.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is the most common deep mycosis in South America and is caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (P. brasiliensis), a thermally dimorphic fungus. Infections usually occur by inhalation of conidia, which more often cause respiratory, mucocutaneous, and lymph nodal changes.

A 10-year unsuspected lumbar schwannoma: a case report.

One case of unsuspected schwannoma is reported in a 69-year old man with chronic lumbosacral pain. The tumour had been mistaken for a lumbar lipoma for a decade. The definitive diagnosis was established after surgery based on the characteristic histopathological findings.