Analysis of infection rates and duration of short and long-term hemodialysis catheters in a teaching hospital.

Background: Short-term (ST) and long-term tunneled (LTT) central venous catheters for hemodialysis (CVCH) are critical for hemodialysis therapy. However, few studies have been conducted in Brazil to investigate the incidence of complications with these two types of catheters.

Objectives: To analyze complications and duration of CVCH in a hemodialysis center at a teaching hospital.

Heparin Attenuates Visceral Apoptosis in a Swine Model of Hemorrhagic Shock and Reperfusion Injury.

Background: The use of unfractionated heparin in hypovolemic shock, aortic clamping, and visceral reperfusion is still not established, despite evidence of inhibition of early cell damage. This study investigated the potential protective effect of unfractionated heparin on hepatic and renal apoptosis in a porcine ischemia and reperfusion model.

Methods: Twenty-one male swine (Sus scrofa) were divided into 3 groups: sham (n = 5), heparin (n = 8), and nonheparin (n = 8).

Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of interventions for pathologic perforator veins in chronic venous disease.

Introduction: Perforator veins (PVs) play an important role in the development of chronic venous insufficiency and ulceration. Procedures to eliminate incompetence and reflux in PV may include open surgery, subfascial endoscopic surgery, intravenous ablation techniques and sclerotherapy. With the aim of filling the evidence gap, this is a protocol for a systematic review that will assess the effects of any form of intervention for the treatment of pathologic PVs of the lower limbs in patients with chronic venous disease.

Short- and long-term follow-up after transarterial embolization of a giant inferior mesenteric artery aneurysm.

Among the cases of visceral artery aneurysms, those that involve the inferior mesenteric artery are the most uncommon, with a prevalence of <1%. This study reports a giant symptomatic inferior mesenteric artery aneurysm and its endovascular treatment by means of percutaneous embolization with the implantation of pushable coils. After complete occlusion of the aneurysm, adequate maintenance of arterial supply of the left colon and resolution of the symptoms were observed.

Risk factors and short and medium-term survival after open and endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Background: Infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are responsible for high rates of rupture-associated morbidity and mortality and can be treated by open or endovascular surgery.

Objectives: To analyze risk factors and survival associated with surgical and endovascular AAA treatment methods.

Methods: A retrospective, longitudinal study involving 41 patients who underwent endovascular or open AAA repair, whether elective or emergency, over a 48-month period, with analysis of preoperative comorbidities, 30-day and 1-year survival, in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, transfusion of blood products, duration of surgery, and development of acute kidney failure.

[Not Available].

Background: Ultrasound-guided polidocanol foam sclerotherapy is used to treat patients with venous ulcers. It is a minimally invasive procedure and is simple to perform, but it has high relapse rates.

Objectives: To report short to medium term results in patients with venous ulcers treated using ultrasound-guided polidocanol foam sclerotherapy.

[Not Available].

Background: Whether they are defined as minor or major, lower limb amputations constitute a severe health problem, causing high rates of morbidity and mortality and considerable social impact. Different patient clinical characteristics appear to be related to different types of amputations.

Objectives: To analyze risk factors present in patients who underwent lower limb amputations at a tertiary hospital.

[Not Available].

The anatomy of the venous system of the lower limbs is among the most complex in the human body. In view of this, it is extremely important to know how to identify variations that can affect it, such as congenital malformations, for example. In cases of a rare vascular malformation such as agenesis of deep veins, clinical status may manifest with chronic venous insufficiency, which can progress with edema, hyperpigmentation, and lower limb ulcers.

[Uterine fibroid embolization in women with giant fibroids].

Purpose: to evaluate the effectiveness of uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) in patients with giant fibroids, with regard to both clinical outcomes and size reduction.

Methods: twenty-six patients with a mean age of 36.5 years, carrying symptomatic fibroids with a volume over 1,000 cm³, were referred for UFE.

Hybrid procedures for complex thoracic aortic diseases.

Background: Hybrid procedures for the treatment of complex thoracic aortic diseases (CTAD) require the revascularization of one or more supra-aortic arteries, followed by the deployment of one or more aortic endoprosthesis, with lower morbidity and mortality compared to conventional surgery.

Objectives: To evaluate the technique and results of hybrid procedures for CTAD.

Methods: During two years, 12 patients with CTAD underwent hybrid procedures, including aortic arch aneurysms and acute Stanford A and B aortic dissections.

[Strategies for reduction of exposure to ionizing radiation in women undergone to uterine fibroid embolization].

Purpose: to determine the dose of ionizing radiation absorbed by the ovaries and the skin of patients undergoing uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), and to suggest a radiologic protocol directed at reducing the risks involved in this procedure.

Methods: seventy-three consecutive women (mean age: 27 years) participating in an institutional research protocol, having symptomatic uterine fibroids with indication for minimally invasive treatment, underwent UFE. We estimated the radiation absorbed by the ovaries by means of vaginal dosimeters and the radiation dose absorbed by the skin by means of indirect calculations of radiation absorption.