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.

Impact of three-dimensional echocardiography on classification of the severity of aortic stenosis.

Background: Owing to its elliptical shape, the left ventricle outflow tract (LVOT) area is underestimated by two-dimensional (2D) diameter-based calculations which assume a circular shape. This results in overestimation of aortic stenosis (AS) by the continuity equation. In cases of moderate to severe AS, this overestimation can affect intraoperative clinical decision making (expectant management versus replacement).

Dynamic 3-dimensional echocardiographic assessment of mitral annular geometry in patients with functional mitral regurgitation.

Background: Mitral valve (MV) annular dynamics have been well described in animal models of functional mitral regurgitation (FMR). Despite this, little if any data exist regarding the dynamic MV annular geometry in humans with FMR. In the current study we hypothesized that 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, in conjunction with commercially available software, could be used to quantify the dynamic changes in MV annular geometry associated with FMR.

The role of computed tomography for identifying mechanical bowel obstruction in a Pakistani population.

Objective: To retrospectively review our experience of CT scan in cases with a final diagnosis of surgically confirmed mechanical bowel obstruction.

Methods: It is a retrospective analytical study, done from 2003 to 2008. All adult patients having undergone laparotomy in addition to a preoperative abdominal CT scan over a 5 year period were identified through the medical records and their case notes reviewed.

Survival of liver transplant patients coinfected with HIV and HCV is adversely impacted by recurrent hepatitis C.

Although liver transplantation (LTx) in HIV-positive patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has been successful, some have reported poorer outcomes in patients coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Here we discuss the impact of recurrent HCV on 27 HIV-positive patients who underwent LTx. HIV infection was well controlled post-transplantation.

Caroli's disease and orthotopic liver transplantation.

Caroli's disease is a rare congenital hepatic disease, characterized by segmental dilatation of the biliary tree. Patients who have recurrent bouts of biliary infection, particularly those with complications related to portal hypertension, may require orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Few case reports have described the outcome of OLT in patients with Caroli's disease and to date there is no large series reported in the literature.