Linking QKD Testbeds across Europe.

Quantum-key-distribution (QKD) networks are gaining importance and it has become necessary to analyze the most appropriate methods for their long-distance interconnection. In this paper, four different methods of interconnecting remote QKD networks are proposed. The methods are used to link three different QKD testbeds in Europe, located in Berlin, Madrid, and Poznan.

Robotic Off-Pump Totally Endoscopic Coronary Artery Bypass in Patients With Low Ejection Fraction.

Robotic totally endoscopic coronary bypass (R-TECAB) has been shown to be a safe and effective technique with excellent outcomes. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of R-TECAB in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and to report our midterm outcomes with up to 7-year follow-up. All patients undergoing R-TECAB at our institution between July 2013 and July 2020 were retrospectively reviewed.

A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing THUNDERBEAT to the Maryland LigaSure energy device in laparoscopic left colon surgery.

Background: The THUNDERBEAT is a multi-functional energy device which delivers both ultrasonic and bipolar energy, but there are no randomized trials which can provide more rigorous evaluation of the clinical performance of THUNDERBEAT compared to other energy-based devices in colorectal surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical performance of THUNDERBEAT energy device to Maryland LigaSure in patients undergoing left laparoscopic colectomy.

Methods: Prospective randomized trial with two groups: Group 1 THUNDERBEAT and Group 2 LigaSure in a single university hospital.

STS INTERMACS Database: The Key to Conduct Single-Arm Trials in Advanced Heart Failure Patients.

Background: Safe introduction of novel mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices into clinical practice is a challenging process. Single-arm trials using a control arm from existing database is an effective alternative that could be applied for regulatory approval. This study analyzes the capability of the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) database to establish objective performance criteria and select patient population that could be used for future single-arm MCS trials.

The Role of Minimally Invasive and Endoscopic Technologies in Morbid Obesity Treatment: Review and Critical Appraisal of the Current Clinical Practice.

Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. Availability of different procedures with low complication rates, performed through a minimally invasive approach, have caused profound positive effect on patient's quality of life and has led to their worldwide, rapid expansion of the field. The laparoscopic revolution has introduced the concept of lowering more and more the treatments' invasiveness, leading to a change in the researchers' mentality.

Metastatic Epicardial Leiomyoma with uncertain malignant potential.

A 49-year-old female with history of uterine leiomyoma and intermittent shortness of breath presented to the emergency department with new onset of tachycardia and chest pain. Subsequent cardiac work up revealed hypoechoic mass compressing the right ventricle. Computer tomography guided biopsy for tissue characterization revealed a benign spindle cell tumor.

Minimally invasive and endoscopic versus open necrosectomy for necrotising pancreatitis: a pooled analysis of individual data for 1980 patients.

Objective: Minimally invasive surgical necrosectomy and endoscopic necrosectomy, compared with open necrosectomy, might improve outcomes in necrotising pancreatitis, especially in critically ill patients. Evidence from large comparative studies is lacking.

Design: We combined original and newly collected data from 15 published and unpublished patient cohorts (51 hospitals; 8 countries) on pancreatic necrosectomy for necrotising pancreatitis.

Clinical Outcomes of Inadequate Calorie Delivery and Protein Deficit in Surgical Intensive Care Patients.

Background: Adequate nutritional therapy in critically ill patients is integral to optimal outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the association between cumulative macronutrient deficit and overall morbidity in surgical intensive care unit patients.

Methods: Adult patients receiving enteral nutrition for more than 72 hours were included if they had no previous admission to the surgical intensive care unit, had received no enteral feedings before admission, had no intestinal obstruction or ileus, and survived 72 hours or more after admission.

Abscess due to perforated appendicitis: factors associated with successful percutaneous drainage.

Background: Percutaneous drainage is the standard treatment for perforated appendicitis with abscess. We studied factors associated with complete resolution (CR) with percutaneous drainage alone.

Methods: Ninety-eight patients underwent percutaneous drainage for acute appendicitis complicated by abscess (October 1990 to September 2010).

Sample entropy predicts lifesaving interventions in trauma patients with normal vital signs.

Introduction: Heart rate complexity, commonly described as a "new vital sign," has shown promise in predicting injury severity, but its use in clinical practice is not yet widely adopted. We previously demonstrated the ability of this noninvasive technology to predict lifesaving interventions (LSIs) in trauma patients. This study was conducted to prospectively evaluate the utility of real-time, automated, noninvasive, instantaneous sample entropy (SampEn) analysis to predict the need for an LSI in a trauma alert population presenting with normal vital signs.

Diagnosis and deployment of a self-expanding foam for abdominal exsanguination: Translational questions for human use.

Background: We have previously described the hemostatic efficacy of a self-expanding polyurethane foam in lethal venous and arterial hemorrhage models. A number of critical translational questions remain, including prehospital diagnosis of hemorrhage, use with diaphragmatic injury, effects on spontaneous respiration, the role of omentum, and presence of a laparotomy on foam properties.

Methods: In Experiment 1, diagnostic blood aspiration was attempted through a Veress needle before foam deployment during exsanguination (n = 53).

Delayed laparotomy after selective non-operative management of penetrating abdominal injuries.

Background: Main concern during the practice of selective non-operative management (SNOM) for abdominal stab wounds (SW) and gunshot wounds (GSW) is the potential for harm in patients who fail SNOM and receive a delayed laparotomy (DL). The aim of this study is to determine whether such patients suffer adverse sequelae because of delays in diagnosis and treatment when managed under a structured SNOM protocol.

Methods: 190 patients underwent laparotomy after an abdominal GSW or SW (5/04-10/12).

Single-stage cholecystectomy at the time of pancreatic necrosectomy is safe and prevents future biliary complications: a 20-year single institutional experience with 217 consecutive patients.

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend cholecystectomy (CCY) during the index admission for mild to moderate biliary pancreatitis as delayed CCY is associated with a substantial risk of recurrent biliary events. Delayed CCY is recommended in severe pancreatitis. The optimal timing of CCY in necrotizing pancreatitis, however, has not been well studied.

The influence of anesthesia on heart rate complexity during elective and urgent surgery in 128 patients.

Background: As an emerging "new vital sign," heart rate complexity (by sample entropy [SampEn]) has been shown to be a useful trauma triage tool by predicting occult physiologic compromise and need for life-saving interventions. Sample entropy may be confounded by anesthesia possibly limiting its value intraoperatively. We investigated the effects of anesthesia on SampEn during elective and urgent surgical procedures.

Self-expanding foam for prehospital treatment of intra-abdominal hemorrhage: 28-day survival and safety.

Background: Intracavitary noncompressible hemorrhage remains a significant cause of preventable death on the battlefield and in the homeland. We previously demonstrated the hemostatic efficacy of an in situ self-expanding poly(urea)urethane foam in a severe, closed-cavity, hepatoportal exsanguination model in swine. We hypothesized that treatment with, and subsequent explantation of, foam would not adversely impact 28-day survival in swine.

Complicated intra-abdominal infections worldwide: the definitive data of the CIAOW Study.

The CIAOW study (Complicated intra-abdominal infections worldwide observational study) is a multicenter observational study underwent in 68 medical institutions worldwide during a six-month study period (October 2012-March 2013). The study included patients older than 18 years undergoing surgery or interventional drainage to address complicated intra-abdominal infections (IAIs). 1898 patients with a mean age of 51.

Causes and consequences of interrupted enteral nutrition: a prospective observational study in critically ill surgical patients.

Background: Malnutrition and underfeeding are major challenges in caring for critically ill patients. Our goal was to characterize interruptions in enteral nutrition (EN) delivery and their impact on caloric debt in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU).

Materials And Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study of adults admitted to surgical ICUs at a Boston teaching hospital (March-December 2012).

Self-expanding foam for prehospital treatment of severe intra-abdominal hemorrhage: dose finding study.

Background: Noncompressible abdominal bleeding is a significant cause of preventable death on the battlefield and in the civilian trauma environment, with no effective therapies available at point of injury. We previously described the development of a percutaneously administered, self-expanding, poly(urea)urethane foam that improved survival in a lethal Grade V hepatic and portal vein injury model in swine. In this study, we hypothesized that survival with foam treatment is dose dependent.

Quantum metropolitan optical network based on wavelength division multiplexing.

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is maturing quickly. However, the current approaches to its application in optical networks make it an expensive technology. QKD networks deployed to date are designed as a collection of point-to-point, dedicated QKD links where non-neighboring nodes communicate using the trusted repeater paradigm.

Development of a lethal, closed-abdomen, arterial hemorrhage model in noncoagulopathic swine.

Background: Prehospital treatment for noncompressible abdominal bleeding, particularly due to large vascular injury, represents a significant unmet medical need on the battlefield and in civilian trauma. To date, few large animal models are available to assess new therapeutic interventions and hemostatic agents for prehospital hemorrhage control.

Methods: We developed a novel, lethal, closed-abdomen injury model in noncoagulopathic swine by strategic placement of a cutting wire around the external iliac artery.

Revisional versus primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: a case-matched analysis.

Background: Laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) has been a widely performed bariatric procedure. Unfortunately, revisional surgery is required in 20-30% of cases. Data comparing revisional and primary gastric bypass procedures are scarce.

Real-time sample entropy predicts life-saving interventions after the Boston Marathon bombing.

Purpose: Identifying patients in need of a life-saving intervention (LSI) during a mass casualty event is a priority. We hypothesized that real-time, instantaneous sample entropy (SampEn) could predict the need for LSI in the Boston Marathon bombing victims.

Materials And Methods: Severely injured Boston Marathon bombing victims (n = 10) had sample entropy (SampEn) recorded upon presentation using a continuous 200-beat rolling average in real time.

Complicated intra-abdominal infections in a worldwide context: an observational prospective study (CIAOW Study).

Despite advances in diagnosis, surgery, and antimicrobial therapy, mortality rates associated with complicated intra-abdominal infections remain exceedingly high. The World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) has designed the CIAOW study in order to describe the clinical, microbiological, and management-related profiles of both community- and healthcare-acquired complicated intra-abdominal infections in a worldwide context. The CIAOW study (Complicated Intra-Abdominal infection Observational Worldwide Study) is a multicenter observational study currently underway in 57 medical institutions worldwide.

Influence of additional resection of the gastric fundus on excessive weight loss in laparoscopic very very long limb Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is the gold standard in bariatric surgery. The effect of the procedure is based on restriction, malabsorption and changes in hormonal axis. Ghrelin is an important appetite hormone which is produced mainly in the gastric fundus.

Field test of quantum key distribution in the Tokyo QKD Network.

A secure communication network with quantum key distribution in a metropolitan area is reported. Six different QKD systems are integrated into a mesh-type network. GHz-clocked QKD links enable us to demonstrate the world-first secure TV conferencing over a distance of 45km.