[Heart autotransplantation for the treatment of a rhabdomyosarcoma of the left ventricle. Report of one case].

Heart autotransplantation is an exceptional surgical technique used in the treatment of uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmias and primary unresectable cardiac tumors. We report a 28-year-old male with a rhabdomyosarcoma of the left ventricle, localized in the lateral and posterior wall, which involved the mitral valve and circumflex artery. After a complete study ruling out dissemination of the tumor, the patient was operated.

[Surgical results among 100 patients with type A aortic dissection: retrospective review].

Background: Tipe A aortic dissection involves the ascending aorta and has high mortality rates without surgical treatment.

Aim: To report the results of surgical treatment of type A aortic dissection.

Material And Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of 100 patients aged 17 to 78 years (73% males) operated between January 2000 and August 2008, for type A aortic dissection.

[Essential functions of public health: emerging topic in health care reform].

In the Americas, health sector reforms are facing the challenge of strengthening the steering and leadership role of health authorities. An important part of that role consists of fulfilling the essential public health functions (EPHFs) that are incumbent on all levels of government. For that, it's crucial to improve public health practice, as well as the instruments used to assess the current state of public health practice and the areas where it needs to be strengthened.