A new hydrocolloid dressing prevents surgical site infection of median sternotomy wounds.

Purpose: This prospective and semi-randomized study was conducted to clarify the effectiveness of a new hydrocolloid dressing placed over median sternotomy wounds using an occlusive dressing technique.

Methods: The subjects were 253 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), who were randomized to receive either the new hydrocolloid dressing (Karayahesive, n = 117) or a polyurethane foam dressing (Tegaderm plus Pad, n = 136) immediately after sternal wound closure. Karayahesive was left in place for 7 days, whereas the Tegaderm plus Pad was removed on postoperative day (POD) 2 and replaced with an adhesive wound dressing until POD 7.

Long-term outcome of type B aortic intramural hematoma: comparison with classic aortic dissection treated by the same therapeutic strategy.

Background: The long-term clinical course and therapeutic strategy of patients with type B aortic intramural hematoma (IMH) are not completely known. The purpose of this study was to clarify long-term prognosis of patients with type B IMH by comparison with type B classic aortic dissection (AD).

Methods: Clinical data were compared retrospectively between 37 patients with acute type B IMH (IMH group) and 69 patients with acute type B AD (AD group).

Esophageal and bronchial perforations after thoracic aortic aneurysm replacement: successful repair with covered metallic stents.

Esophageal and bronchial perforations are rare but potentially fatal complications of descending thoracic aortic aneurysm replacement. This report presents a 67-year-old man with both esophageal and bronchial perforations that occurred after descending thoracic aortic aneurysm replacement. Surgical repair was performed, but the lesions perforated again.

Aortopulmonary fistula after aortic root replacement.

This report describes a rare case of aortopulmonary fistula in pseudoaneurysm of the left coronary ostial button. A 66-year-old woman suddenly developed congestive heart failure 3 years after aortic root replacement for acute type A aortic dissection. The diagnosis of aortopulmonary fistula was confirmed preoperatively by aortography, heart catheterization, and spiral computed tomography.

New development of an ulcerlike projection in aortic intramural hematoma: CT evaluation.

Purpose: To investigate the natural history and predictors of progression of a newly developed ulcerlike projection in patients with an aortic intramural hematoma.

Materials And Methods: Serial computed tomographic (CT) findings in 52 patients with intramural hematoma were reviewed. Sixteen patients had Stanford type A intramural hematoma, and 36 had Stanford type B.

Analysis of predictive factors for progression of type B aortic intramural hematoma with computed tomography.

Purpose: For patients with Stanford type B aortic intramural hematoma (IMH), medical treatment is usually selected. However, the outcomes of patients with type B IMH are not completely understood, and some cases can have fatal complications develop or surgical treatment necessitated. The purpose of this study was to investigate predictors of progression of the affected aorta in patients with type B IMH with initial computed tomography (CT) images.