Surgical thoracic sympathectomy induces structural and biomechanical remodeling of the thoracic aorta in a porcine model.

Background: Sympathetic innervation exerts marked effects on vascular smooth muscle cells, including a short-term homeostatic (vasoconstrictor) and a direct trophic action promoting differentiation. However, the role of sympathetic nervous system in long-term structural and functional modulation of the aortic wall is yet undefined.

Methods: Six Landrace pigs underwent bilateral thoracic sympathectomy from the stellate to T8 ganglion, whereas 10 pigs underwent sham operation.

The effects of hypothyroidism on the mechanical properties and histomorphological structure of the thoracic aorta.

This experimental study investigates the effects of hypothyroidism on the descending thoracic aorta. Hypothyroidism was induced in 20 male Wistar rats by administering 0.05% of 6-n propyl 2-thiouracil (PTU) in their drinking water for 8 weeks.

Hypothyroidism and the aorta. evidence of increased oxidative DNA damage to the aorta of hypothyroid rats.

Background: Although it has been suggested that the hypometabolic state is associated with a decrease in oxidative stress, literature data are controversial, revealing an individuality of oxidant status in relation to tissue properties and responsiveness. Hypothyroidism has profound direct and indirect actions on the vascular system, inducing characteristic hemodynamic changes while the aorta represents an important determinant of vascular performance. This study aims to examine the oxidant status on the aorta in chronic experimental hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism is associated with increased aortic oxidative DNA damage in a rat model.

Background: Hyperthyroidism is associated with increased oxidative stress and oxygen free radical production. Oxygen free radicals are implicated in several signalling pathways leading to vascular pathology. The present study evaluates the extent of aortic oxidative stress in experimental hyperthyroidism.

Thorough clinical investigation of low cardiac output syndrome after subxiphoid pericardiostomy.

The paradoxical hemodynamic response after surgical or catheter pericardial drainage for cardiac tamponade is an infrequent complication. This case report describes this occasional ominous consequence of surgical pericardial decompression and suggests possible physiological explanations of rapidly progressive heart failure and death.

The mechanical performance and histomorphological structure of the descending aorta in hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid hormones decrease systemic vascular resistance by directly affecting vascular smooth muscle relaxation. There is limited literature about their effect on the mechanical performance of the aortic wall. Therefore, the authors determined the influence of hyperthyroidism on the mechanical properties and histomorphological structure of the descending thoracic aorta in rats.

Post-vagotomy mechanical characteristics and structure of the thoracic aortic wall.

This study assessed the long-term effect of vagotomy on the structure and passive mechanical characteristics of the thoracic aorta under a wide range of stresses in vitro. Eight healthy Landrace pigs underwent bilateral vagotomy distal to the origin of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, and 10 pigs were sham-operated. Three months post-surgery, the aorta was excised and specimens from the ascending aorta, arch, and descending thoracic aorta were subjected to histomorphometrical evaluation and uniaxial tensile-testing until failure.

Topographic anatomy of bronchial arteries in the pig: a corrosion cast study.

The anatomy of porcine bronchial circulation has not been fully described. The purpose of this study was to investigate the extrapulmonary topographic anatomy of bronchial arteries in pig. Ten pigs weighing 15-25 kg were studied.

Cervical mediastinoscopy and anterior mediastinotomy in superior vena cava obstruction.

Study Objectives: There is general agreement regarding the diagnostic efficacy of cervical mediastinoscopy (CMDS) and anterior mediastinotomy (AMDT) on patients with superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO), but controversy exists concerning the safety of these two diagnostic methods on that particular subset of patients. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the safety and diagnostic efficacy of CMDS and AMDT in patients with SVCO.

Materials And Methods: During the last 28 years, 39 consecutive patients with SVCO underwent biopsy of mediastinal lesions by CMDS (n = 18) or AMDT (n = 19) or both these techniques (n = 2).

Prognostic factors in thymic epithelial tumors undergoing complete resection.

Background: The prognostic factors in thymic epithelial tumors (TET) are investigated within a 27-year period in 104 patients submitted to surgical and pathologic complete resection of TET with a mean age of 53 +/- 14.6 years and a male to female ratio of 0.73.

Myoplasty versus omentoplasty in the surgical treatment of hydatidosis of the liver dome.

Background And Aims: Even though surgery is the mainstay in the management of hydatid disease of the liver, controversies still exist about the preferred operating technique. This study was conducted to evaluate myoplasty versus omentoplasty for the surgical treatment of hepatic dome hydatidosis.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-two patients with a hydatid cyst located over the right superior-posterior part of the liver or a cyst adherent to the right hemidiaphragm were classified into two groups according to the type of surgical approach.

AIDS-related cardiac tamponade: is surgical drainage justified?

In order to evaluate the usefulness of surgical drainage in the treatment of patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related cardiac tamponade, we reviewed our experience with subxiphoid pericardiostomy on 5 consequent such patients. One patient died in the immediate postoperative period and the remaining 4 died within 21 weeks after the operation. Similar results have been reported by other authors who found that surgical drainage has no diagnostic or therapeutic benefit over pericardiocentesis in this particular group of patients.

Pedicled myocutaneous and muscle flaps in the management of complicated cardiothoracic problems.

The purpose of this study was to review our experience with the management of patients with complicated cardiothoracic problems by the use of pedicled myocutaneous or muscle flaps, and discuss the various methods of reconstruction. Over the last 11 years, we have treated 54 patients with complicated cardiothoracic problems by reconstruction with pedicled myocutaneous or muscle flaps. The underlying causes were chest wall tumours (n = 13), radionecrosis of the chest wall (n = 12), deep or chronic sternal infections (n = 25), and bronchopleural fistulas (n = 4).

Risk factors affecting the survival of patients with pericardial effusion submitted to subxiphoid pericardiostomy.

Study Objectives: Surgical subxiphoid drainage of the pericardial cavity has been established as a safe and effective method of treatment of pericardial effusion; however, the risk factors affecting survival of these patients have not been clarified. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors affecting the short-term and long-term survival of patients with pericardial effusion submitted to subxiphoid pericardiostomy.

Design: Retrospective study.

Surgical treatment of esophageal perforation.

Background/aims: In spite of the progress made during the last few decades, esophageal perforation continues to carry a serious prognosis. The aim of this study is to present our experience with surgical treatment of esophageal perforation.

Methodology: Eight patients with esophageal perforation were submitted to surgical treatment with varying time intervals between the perforation and the operation.

Diaphragm myoplasty in the prevention of complications after surgery of hydatid disease of the liver.

A variety of techniques have been used for surgical treatment of hepatic hydatid cysts. The objective of this study is to describe the technique of diaphragm myoplasty, and to present our experience in the treatment of selected patients with hydatid disease of the liver by means of this alternative surgical technique. The technique combines a diaphragm myoplasty with a wide partial cystectomy performed through a right thoracophrenotomy incision.

Surgical management of a hydatid cyst of the hepatic dome ruptured into the biliary tree.

Hydatid disease of the liver remains an important and challenging medical problem. Although surgery is considered the treatment of choice for hydatid disease of the liver, controversies still exist about the preferred operative technique. We report the case of a patient with obstructive jaundice caused by rupture of a hydatid cyst of the hepatic dome into the biliary tract.